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Houston Environmental News Update March 20, 2019
March 20, 2019

Houston Environmental News Update March 20, 2019

ITC fire, Climate Action Plan Community Meetings, I-45 Expansion meetings, Earth Day Houston, lots of jobs, and more

All too often, our experience with the potential for harmful effects on the environment and the health of ourselves and our loved ones can seem remote, distant, even at times academic.

But this past week, folks in the greater Houston region have had an all-too-real encounter with the dangers posed by our proximity to the nation’s largest petrochemical complex.

For three full days, a black plume wafted over the region, caused by a massive tank fire explosion and fire at the International Terminals Company (ITC) facility in Deer Park., spewing chemicals used as additives in gasoline and other consumer products into the air. The fire began mid-morning Sunday and wasn’t fully extinguished until the early-morning hours Wednesday.

Officials from the company, as well as state and local government, assured the public that air monitoring indicated there was no apparent threat to people’s health, although there were shelter-in-place warnings and school closures in the immediate vicinity. But as they watched the smoke slowly drift across the sky, people couldn’t help but wonder.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the federal Environmental Protection Agency, as well as local agencies, are continuing to monitor the potential impacts on the air and the waters of the Houston Ship Channel.

Meanwhile, environmental groups are calling for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations in our state and region. One Breath Partnership, a coalition of environmental advocates and watchdog groups, has drafted a petition calling for more transparency and effective regulation. Air Alliance Houston, Environment Texas, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Integrity Project, Public Citizen, and Rice University) are calling for robust monitoring and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations in our state and region.

The Harris County Commissioners Court is expected to have an item about the ITC fire on the agenda of its next meeting, which will be held Tuesday, March 26, beginning at 10 a.m. People who are interested in attending and signing up to speak can do so at appearancerequest.harriscountytx.gov.

CEC NOTES

Earth Day returns to Discovery Green in 2019 on April 14, 2019.

Presented by Green Mountain Energy in partnership with the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Discovery Green’s citywide Earth Day celebration is designed to educate, inspire and encourage action. The event features displays, exhibits and booths on topics ranging from alternative energy to recycling methods, a foodie farmers market, unplugged – a live music acoustic mini-festival, EarthTalks and more, all in a zero-waste footprint. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, April 14, from 12 to 5 p.m.

Volunteer! Opportunities are available for individuals, families, and groups. Sign up at earthdayhouston.org/volunteer.

The Earth Day celebration at Discovery Green isn’t the only game in town. If you know of an observance in the greater Houston region, please let us know at news@cechouston.org.

Summer Internships with CEC

CEC anticipates hiring several volunteer and paid summer interns in 2019.

Typical internships involve Communications and Marketing, Policy & Government Relations, Publications/Journalism, Digital Media, Development, Event Coordination, Business Development and Bookkeeping, and Environmental Education; we are also open to customized internships to meet professional and academic goals. Internships include mentorship and networking opportunities, field trips, camaraderie, and chocolate.

With much gratitude for the generosity of the City of Houston’s Hire Houston Youth program, CEC has the opportunity to offer limited number of paid internships, for which youth ages 16-24 may apply through hirehoustonyouth.org by March 23, 2019. To be considered for additional paid and unpaid summer internship opportunities, please submit a cover letter and resume to internships@cechouston.org.

CEC Seeks Board Members for 2020

The CEC is currently recruiting volunteers to serve on our 2020 Board of Directors and on board committees (programs, publications, membership, governance, finance, and development). We will be hosting informational meet and greets for potential board members on March 25, May 28, July 22, September 24, and October 14, 2019. If you are interested and would like more information about these meetings and the board application process, please send an email with a link to your Linkedin profile (or your résumé) to boardapplicant@cechouston.org. More info at cechouston.org/volunteer.

Scroll down to read notes from our member organizations and the community, or view the emailed version of the newsletter, which includes a green job listing

COALITION & COMMUNITY NOTES

We have endeavored to confirm the events listed below. Please consider confirming directly with the hosts.

City of Houston Climate Action Plan Community Meetings

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sources Houston 2014: Buildings 49%, Transportation 47%, Waste 4%

As you’re probably aware, the City of Houston, working with the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), has embarked on drafting a Climate Action Plan. The goal is to create ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and establish a pathway to meet the Paris Agreement goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, while also decreasing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and reducing costs through energy efficiency and renewable energy. The target completion date for the Plan is December 2019, with implementation by the City to start in 2020.

The City has scheduled a set of Community Meetings to give members of the public information about the Plan, as well as receive input: Each meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. on the following dates:

  • April 1, 2019 — Acres Homes Multiservice Center
  • April 16, 2019 — Denver Harbor Multiservice Center
  • May 2, 2019 — Northeast Multiservice Center

Also, on March 27, the City’s Green Building Resource Center will host its own Climate Action Plan Meeting for interested stakeholders. The meeting will feature the City’s Larissa Williams, HARC’s Gavin Dillingham, Ph.D., and GBRC director Steve Stelzer. For more information and to RSVP, visit codegreenhouston.org.

Community Meetings on I-45 Expansion and Children’s Health

Air Alliance Houston is hosting a series of Community Meetings on the effects on children’s health of the proposed I-45 expansion project. The meetings will gather input for a Health Impact Assessment, which is designed to combine maps and data assessment with information from community members describing their daily experience of air pollution, pedestrian and cycling safety, and other environmental impacts of the freeway to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the I-45 project on community health. The meetings will be:

2019 AIA Sandcastle Competition registration now open

Registration for the 2019 AIA Sandcastle Competition, the organization’s biggest funrdraiser of the year, will be held August 24, 2019, at East Beach, Galveston. Registration is open through June 7. Those who wish to participate must meet the qualifications outlined within the Team Competition Rules. For more information and to register, visit aiahouston.org.

Texas Wildlife Association Outreach Teacher Workshops registration now open

From June 4 to July 25, 2019, the Texas Wildlife Association is offering several free Outreach Teacher Workshops in the Houston area. These 6-hour, hands-on trainings introduce attendees to the TWA, provide in-class and outdoor L.A.N.D.S. Outreach lessons and activities, and discuss how to incorporate natural resources into classrooms or programming.  Lessons focus on teaching land stewardship, native wildlife, and water conservation and are TEKS-aligned. For more information and to register, visit texas-wildlife.org.

Texas Environmental Education Mapping Project

Texas Children in Nature (TCiN) is asking environmental organizations to participate in an ambitious project to map out the landscape of environmental/sustainability/environmental literacy education throughout Texas. The project aims to better understand the work being done around the state and identify opportunities for K-12 providers to join forces, share resources and accelerate collective impact. Participants must complete a 30-minute survey which gathers information about programming, operations, and needs for the future. Participating organizations will receive: $50 unrestricted donation to the organization (for nonprofits); access to the aggregated map with data from hundreds of service providers; a final report summarizing survey findings, including a statewide program directory; and an invitation to participate in the ongoing exploration of collective impact strategies in the field. Please fill out the survey by March 31, 2019 at surveymonkey.com. Contact Ilya Shmulenson at ilya@ecorise.org or 512-571-9968 with any questions. 

Videos, photos from “Toward a Better Future” symposium available online

The Rothko Chapel’s recent Spring Symposium, “Toward a Better Future: Transforming the Climate Crisis,” drew a total 240 attendees over the two days at the Chapel and the University of St. Thomas. Videos of many of the events are now online, including the keynote address by Somini Sengupta, global climate reporter for The New York Times; and the panel discussions Navigating Climate Change: An Interfaith Conversation, Impact of Climate Change on Mind, Body, and Spirit, and
Young Activists Speak Out. Photos of the entire symposium can be found on the Chapel’s Flicker page.

Spring Creek Ambassador training program begins March 21

The Bayou Land Conservancy offers its free, five-week Spring Creek Ambassador training program, beginning with a mandatory orientation on March 21. Participants will learn about the unique features of the local ecology the exciting work that BLC does. After completing the program, Ambassadors will have a better understanding of what’s in their backyard, how to protect and preserve the greenway, and how you can get involved in the work that the BLC does. For more information and to register, visit bayoulandconservancy.org.

Biannual Leadership Forum

On March 21, 2019, from 10 a.m.-noon, the Houston-Galveston Area Council invites local elected officials and community leaders to discuss the progress made within Basin 12 and provide feedback. The Brazos-Colorado Coastal Basin Bacteria Reduction Project aims to identify, plan, and address bacteria impairments across the basin. The event will be held at the Wharton Civic Center, 1924 N. Fulton Street, Wharton. For more information visit, h-gac.com.

HPC’s Annual Hats in the Park

On March 21, 2019, starting at 11:30 a.m., Hermann Park Conservancy will hold its annual Hats in the Park luncheon to raise funds to improve and protect Hermann Park for future generations. This year’s event will l honor Jane Anderson Curtis. The luncheon will be held at the McGovern Centennial Gardens and Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Drive. For more information, visit hermannpark.org.

Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy Annual Meeting

On March 21, 2019, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., the board of the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy will hold their annual meeting at Schwartz Gazebo, 5300 Dyad Drive. The meeting, which is open to the public, will share the accomplishments and future plans for the Greenspace.In case of inclement weather the meeting time and place will be changed to 6-7:30 p.m. at the Platou Community Center, Chimney Rock Park, 11655 Chimney Rock Road. For more information, see the Facebook event.

“The Wonder of Bird Migration: The Science Behind It and How Plants Help”

On March 21, 2019, beginning at 7:15 p.m., the Houston chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will hold its monthly meeting. Sarah Flournoy, the Bird-Friendly Communities Program Manager at Houston Audubon, will present information about bird migration and explain how individuals can help. The presentation will be at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 120 West Loop North. For more information, visit npsot.org.


Society for the Advancement of Youth applications due March 22

The Society for the Advancement of Volunteer Youth (SAVY) at Moody Gardens in Galveston provides students 14 to 17 years of age with the opportunity to volunteer within their community while gaining experience in a variety of career fields. The program will begin with an Open House on April 6, 2019, with Orientations scheduled for May 31 an June 1. The deadline to apply is March 22, 2019. For more information, visit moodygardens.com.

Houston Audubon Birdathon 2019 begins March 22

Houston Audubon’s Birdathon 2019, which combines a fundraiser with a great opportunity to enjoy the spring migration, will be held March 22 through May 13, Teams of two or more (typically 4-5) compete to count as many bird species as possible in a consecutive 24-hour period. For more information and to register, visit houstonaudubon.org.

Civic Saturday: Flood Mitigation

On March 23, 2019, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium will co-host a Civic Saturday event focusing on flood mitigation at the White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Drive. The event will include a free lunch and dinner, child care and activities, and breakout discussions. For more information, visit talkingtransition.us.

Houston Zoo Educator Workshop

On March 23, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Houston Zoo will host its annual Educator Workshop to help teachers discover new ways to help students fall in love with nature. Evidence shows that regular contact with nature enhances creativity, boosts academic performance and ultimately increases focus, attention and enthusiasm for learning. Through this workshop, teachers will learn techniques to help create meaningful connections between their students and the natural world in their classroom every day. For more information and to purchase your ticket and for more information, visit houstonzoo.doubleknot.com.

Brews on the Bayou

On March 23, 2019, from 4-8 p.m., the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory will host its second annual “Brews on the Bayou” fundraising event at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 299 Highway 332, Lake Jackson. The event will include specialty brews from local breweries, wines, live music, food trucks and a silent auction. For more information, visit gcbo.org.

“Pollinators Eat Local Too” with Edible Houston

On March 24, 2019, from 3-6 p.m., Edible Houston will host a class with Lauren Simpson, pollinator-conservation advocate and creator of St. Julian’s Crossing Wildlife Habitat, on what pollinators are and why they are important to our local ecosystem. Representatives of Rooted Garden will discuss raised beds that are suitable for everything from small urban yards to expansive rural settings. The class will take place at Wabash Feed, 4537 N. Shepherd Drive. For more information and to register, visit the Facebook event.

“Energy and the Green New Deal”

On March 26, 2019, from noon-1:30 p.m., The Houston Economics Club will host a talk by John Hofmeister, founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy and former president of Shell Oil, titled “Refreshing the Energy Outlook Given the Intervention of the Green New Deal.” The event will be held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch, 1801 Allen Parkway. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.com.

Houston Tomorrow discussion of I-45 expansion

On March 27, 2019, from 12-1:30 p.m., Houston Tomorrow will host a brownbag panel discussion led by Jay Blazek Crossley of Farm&City of the proposed I-45 expansion project. The discussion will be held at the offices of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555 Timmons Avenue. To RSVP, send an email to info@houstontomorrow.org.

JASON National Educators’ Conference

The JASON National Educators’ Conference is a three-day event in which educators can experience engaging science and engineering lessons using low-cost materials easily accessible to all classroom types. This year’s conference will be held from March 28-30 , 2019 at the Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute, 2450 Holcombe Drive. For more information, visit jason.org.

Greens Bayou Greenway Ribbon-Cutting

On March 28, 2019, at 10 a.m, the Houston Parks Board will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Greens Bayou Greenway, Houston’s newest greenway and hike-and-bike trails. The ceremony will be held at 1018 W. Greens Road, the cul-de-sac at the end of Gears Loop Road. For more information, visit houstonparksboard.org.

“Best Bets for Texas Water”

On March 28, 2019, from 1:30-3 p.m., the Water Efficiency Network of the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District will host a presentation by Ann Schmitt, counsel for the National Wildlife Federation and the Texas Living Waters Project, on developing
a creative approach to simultaneously protect clean water supplies as well as to create flood-resilient communities. The presentation will introduce “Best Bets for Texas Water“, a guidebook created by the Texas Living Waters Project that explores water supply strategies for building a better water future for all. The event will be held at the offices of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555 Timmons Lane.

UH Energy Symposium – “Offshore Wind: Will It Happen In Texas?”

On March 28, 2019, from 6-7:30 p.m., UH Energy will host the latest of its Energy Symposium Series, entitled “Offshore Wind: Will It Happen in Texas?” The event will be held at the UH Student Center South. For more information and to register, visit Evenbrite.com.

“Texas Forest Pests: Some Old and Some New”

On March 28, 2019, from 7-8:30 p.m., The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. will present a Going Green Lecture featuring Allen Smith, forest health coordinator with the Texas Forest Service, on the common threats to forest health in Texas and the region. The event will be held at the the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), 8801 Gosling Road. For more information, visit thewoodlandsgreen.org.

River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash

The 2019 River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash will be held on March 30, 2019. Join thousands of volunteers cleaning up trash and debris along area waterways. With locations across the Galveston Bay watershed, there’s a cleanup site near home, work, or school. There are 16 locations to choose from. Groups of 10 or more can complete a group reservation to let the site know you are coming – individual registration on the day of the event is still required for each member of the group. Visit the Trash Bash website to find out where to volunteer, get registration information, donate online to support the cleanup, and much more.

Spring Saturday Morning Series at Houston Botanic Garden

On March 30, 2019, the Houston Botanic Garden will kick off its new Spring Saturday Morning Series to give the public the opportunity to interact with nature at its future site. At 9 a.m., there will be a Family Workshop on Pollinators with representatives of Katy Prairie Conservancy, followed at 11 a.m. by an Adult Workshop and Native Plant Sale. For more information and to register, visit hbg.org.

Walk for The Woods Project 2019

On March 30, 2019, The Woods Project, which works to develop leadership qualities among low-income youth through outdoor/environmental awareness programs, will host its annual 5K walk fundraiser through Houston’s historic East End. The route includes stops along an undeveloped area of Buffalo Bayou, where walkers will meet TWP students and hear inspiring stories about their transformative experiences during summer trip. For more information and to register, visit thewoodsproject.org.

TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife

Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3 p.m. each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Texas City, Galveston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.

  • Landowners, conservationists, others’ love affair with the Devils River
  • Sand surfing at Sandhills State Park near Odessa
  • Saving the last of the Southern Plains Bison

Additional Upcoming Events