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Houston Environmental News Update August 7, 2019
August 7, 2019

Houston Environmental News Update August 7, 2019

Houston Climate Action Plan, Bird of Houston contest, Smith Point Hawk Watch, Green Film: Ay Mariposa, Green Jobs, and more

Houston Climate Action Plan

On Thursday, July 25, the City of Houston officially rolled out its long-awaited draft Climate Action Plan at a stakeholder meeting at City Hall. The plan, developed over a period of a year in conjunction with the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), has the goal of making Houston a carbon-neutral city by 2050. There plan includes four major goal areas: transportation, energy transition, building optimization, and materials management. The city is taking public comments through August 31, 2019.

The final plan is expected to be approved in December, with implementation to begin in 2020. You can read the full draft outline and submit comments at http://greenhoustontx.gov/climateactionplan/. The city is also seeking to recognize Climate Ambassadors, which you can nominate here.

On Aug. 28, 2019, Lara Cottingham, the City’s Chief Sustainability Officer, will present the draft of the plan during a civic discussion hosted by Houston Tomorrow at H-GAC.

CEC NOTES

Houston Green Films: Ay Mariposa

The Houston Green Film for August 21 will be “Ay! Mariposa!“, a documentary about two women and a rare community of butterflies standing on the front lines in a battle against the proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall. We will be joined by the director of the National Butterfly Center and of Houston Wilderness. Upcoming films: “Hot Grease” on September 18 and the Wild About Houston Green Film Festival on October 16.

Earth Day Houston

Earth Day Houston, part of the 50th worldwide observance, will be held at Discovery Green on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Opportunities to volunteer, sponsor, and exhibit will be available soon.

Candidate Forums and Questionnaires

7 days of being engaged in the community

Are you organizing a candidate forum or questionnaire for the November 2019 election? CEC is gathering information about election-related activities within our environmental communities. Let us know what you are planning, and we’ll keep you in the loop. CEC is interested in either hosting, coordinating, and/or supporting the efforts of local environmental nonprofits leading up to the election. Send your comments to rachel@cechouston.org. Note: the filing deadline for the November City of Houston elections is August 26, 2019. CEER Houston will be hosting a mayoral candidate forum on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Interested in serving on the CEC Board or a Committee?

CEC is seeking individuals who might be interested in joining our board of directors in January 2020, or volunteering to serve on one of our committees starting this year. Over the next few months, we are hosting information sessions for prospective board and committee members to learn more about the commitment and opportunities. Upcoming sessions include the evenings of July 29, September 23, and October 15. For more information (including directions to our top secret world headquarters), please email rachel@cechouston.org.

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 opportunities listed below. Please consider confirming directly with the hosts.

Clean Waters Initiative Workshop Field Trip

On Aug. 8, 2019, from 10 a.m.-noon, the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Save Water Texas Coalition will host a Clean Waters InitiativeField Trip to learn more about the coalition’s programs and tour its brand-new Water Quality Mobile Teaching Lab. The meeting and tour will be at the North Harris County Regional Water Authority, 3648 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston. For more information and to register, visit h-gac.com or contact Brian.Sims@h-gac.com or 713-993-2438.

Texas Water Development Board Flood Stakeholder Meetings

The Texas Water Development Board is holding a series of meetings across the state to seek public comments on the new state and regional flood planning process and the new flood financing program. The flood planning program will result in regional flood plans in 2023 and the first state flood plan in September 2024. Early efforts of the planning process will focus on setting up the regional flood planning groups. Four meetings are being held in the greater Houston region:

Reforming the Education System via Urban Gardens

On Aug. 8, 2019, beginning at 7:30 p.m., the Sierra Club Houston Group will hold its monthly meeting featuring a presentation by Victor Kopic of Vox Culture on how the organization, in partnership with the Rotary E-Club of Houston, set out to create a case study urban garden model at Wisdom High School in Alief. Kopic will discuss the vision behind the model, discuss it’s goals in reforming how education is approached in Houston public schools, the successes and challenges faced, and share how individuals and groups can become involved in further stages of the garden – or replicate the model in other schools. The meeting will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Pecore Hall. For more information, visit sierraclub.org.

Galveston Historical Association Marine Biology Tours

This summer, the Galveston Historical Association is offering Marine Biology Tours, where participants can observe dolphins and other species in their natural habitat, trawl for and handle marine organisms, study plankton through a microscopic lens, and explore Galveston Bay’s rich history. This unique experience takes place on board the SEAGULL II, a 50-foot catamaran which docks at the Texas Seaport Museum, and is led by a marine biologist. The remaining tours, which cost $20, are available August 10 and 24. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Mercer Society Plumerias & Gingers Sale

On Aug. 10, 2019, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the Mercer Society will host its annual Plumerias & Gingers Sale at Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble.

World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council applications deadline is Aug. 11

The World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council helps to develop World Oceans Day into a unique way to connect and unite youth around the world for a better future with a healthier ocean that sustains us all, no matter where we live. To do so, the Council uses World Oceans Day to rally the world on and around 8 June and provides opportunities for continued engagement and action year-round. Applications for the next selectees to the Council are due Aug. 11, 2019. To learn more and to apply, visit worldoceansday.org.

Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program in Houston

On Sept. 26-27, 2019, the Center for Sustainability and Excellence will bring its Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program to Houston. CSE will focus on issues specific to Houston and the region such as the challenges and opportunities faced to keep Houston ahead of the game; an energy market ripe for sustainability training and how weather-related changes highlight opportunities to work in sustainability. The course provides practical tools to implement or advance a sustainability program with case studies, exercises, and networking. Participants who successfully complete a two-year Sustainability Action Plan qualify for the globally recognized CSR-P Certification. Register by Aug. 12, 2019, to receive an Early Bird discount.

Introduction to Monarchs, Migration, and Our Native Milkweed

On Aug. 12, 2019, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., the Clear Lake chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas will hold its monthly meeting, including a presentation by Chris Anastas and Candice Annen on milkweed, nectar plants, and other natives that make it possible for monarch butterflies to survive; as well as the monarch life cycle, migration, diseases and other threats. They will give updates on the latest monarch science with special emphasis on the Gulf Coast’s role in the complex monarch migration journey. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Space City Weather: What Makes Houston Forecasting Unique?

On Aug. 13, 2019, beginning at 7 p.m., the Houston Museum of Natural Science will host a lecture by Space City Weather meteorologists Eric Berger and Matt Lanza in which they will review how unprecedented Hurricane Harvey was, what it’s like to write about weather online during the social media era, the hurricane threats Houston is not prepared for, and what to expect this season as the Atlantic nears its peak. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hmns.org.

Project WILD Workshop

On Aug. 14, 2019, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Texas Parks and Wildlife will offer a professional development workshop for anyone who works with children to help them explore and share the fascinating world of wildlife and ecosystems using fun, hands-on educational activities. Participants will  experience engaging TEKS-aligned activities while networking with other educators. The event will be held at Barbara Bush Library in Spring. For more information and to preregister (required), visit tpwd.texas.gov.

Mercer Botanic Gardens Lunch Bunch: Birds of a Feather

On Aug. 14, 2019 from noon-2 p.m., Mercer Botanic Gardens will host an engaging, hands-on investigation to discover traits that make a bird a bird. Texas Wildlife Association L.A.N.D.S. Educator Adrienne Paquette will focus on birds that are native to Texas, from wild turkeys to birds of prey. Participants will explore bird anatomy, basic needs of birds, bird adaptations, real bird biofacts, and listen to the calls of native wild birds. Participants should bring a lunch and dress for the weather. For more information, visit the Facebook event.

Bird of Houston voting underway

Houston Audubon’s “Bird of Houston” contest has completed its nomination stage, and voting is now underway. Voting will be done in a brackets-style format. Houston Audubon took the top eight birds with the most nominations and paired them up. Each pair will face off in a head-to-head competition until just the winner remains. Round Three runs Aug. 8-15. The winning Bird of Houston will be announced at the start of Bird Week festivities, from Sept. 21-28, in honor of Houston Audubon’s 50th anniversary. All voting will be done online at houstonaudubon.org/birdofhouston.

Smith Point Hawk Watch begins Aug. 15

From Aug. 15 through Nov. 30, 2019, the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, working with Hawk Watch International, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department ,and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will host the Smith Point Hawk Watch, an annual census of the raptors migrating through Smith Point on the eastern shore of Galveston Bay each fall. For more information, visit gcbo.org.

Community workshops on I-45 expansion

The City of Houston, in partnership with a technical team from Huitt-Zollars and the UH Community Design Resource Center, is hosting community workshops on the proposed I-45 expansion in August. The concerns and mitigation strategies shared by the public regarding the I-45 project will contribute to the technical team’s alternative designs and recommendations for changes to TxDOT.  The meetings are geared toward the separate segments of the project. For more information, visit houstontx.gov.

  • Thursday, August 15, 2019 6-8 p.m. (optional introduction at 5:30 p.m.) Segment 1-North (Beltway 8 to N. Shepherd) Aldine Ninth Grade School 10650 North Freeway, Accessible by METRO routes 56, 59, & 99
  • Saturday, August 17, 2019 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (optional introduction at 9:30 a.m.)  Segment 1-South (N Shepherd to I-610) Burrus Elementary 701 E 33rd St., Accessible by METRO routes 44 & 56
  • Tuesday, August 13, 2019 6-8 p.m. Segment 2 & 3-North (I-610 to I-10 and I-10 to US-59) (optional introduction at 5:30 p.m.) Harris County Department of Education 6300 Irvington Blvd. Accessible by METRO 79

Aquatic WILD Workshop

On Aug. 16, 2019, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Texas Parks and Wildlife will offer a professional development workshop for anyone who works with children to help them explore the fascinating world of aquatic wildlife and ecosystems using fun, hands-on educational activities. Participants will experience engaging TEKS-aligned activities while networking with other educators. The workshop will be held at the Big Stone Lodge at Dennis Johnston Park, Spring. For more information and to preregister (required), visit tpwd.texas.gov.

UH and Executive Service Corps Houston helps nonprofits take advantage of current technology

A joint program between the UH Bauer School of Business and the Executive Service Corps of Houston is designed to provide ESCH clients with business solutions by providing access to the knowledge and technical skills of the Bauer faculty and students of their Management Information Systems Department and ESCH’s business and nonprofit experience.Student teams, under the direct supervision of Decision and Information Science Center faculty members and with the mentorship of ESCH Consultants, work on business projects which could include IT consulting, web, database, and network management and more. Submit a request form through the ESCH website (www.eschouston.org) no later than Aug. 16, 2019. Indicate you are applying for the UH-MIS Program in the Consultation needed section of the Request for Assistance Form. This program has a nominal fee of $250 per nonprofit to cover management of the program plus mentoring by an ESCH consultant. If you have any questions, please call at 713-780-2208 or send an email to esch@eschouston.org. 

H-GAC Disaster Debris Recovery Workshop

On Aug. 16, 2019, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., the Houston-Galveston Area Council will host a Disaster Debris Recovery Workshop. The workshop will provide participants an opportunity to discuss concerns and share best practices and lessons learned from past debris management response and recovery efforts. It will include findings from the Hurricane Debris and Impacts on Landfills Report and findings and recommendations regarding debris management from the Report of the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas. Interested participants can register to attend in-person or via webinar.

Volunteer Work Day at Don Greene Nature Park

On Aug. 17, 2019, from 9 a.m.-noon, the Friends of Don Greene will host the monthly Volunteer Work Day at Don Greene Nature Park, 6009 Cypress St. The event will include planting trees and starting a pocket prairie. There may be some additional work to clear non-natives growing in the warm weather. Bring a light breakfast snack to share. Bring a wheelbarrow, if you have one, garden gloves and shovel. For more information, visit facebook.com/friendsofdongreene/.

Galveston Bay Foundation Rain Barrel Workshop at Houston Maritime Museum

On Aug. 17, 2019, from 10-11 a.m., the Galveston Bay Foundation will host a Rain Barrel Workshop to teach the public about the cost savings and environmental benefits of collecting rainwater, and proper rain barrel installation instructions and tips. The $35 registration fee includes one 35-gallon barrel, one connector kit, and admission to the workshop for the registrant and one guest. The workshop will be held at the Houston Maritime Museum, 2311 Canal Street. For more information and to register, visit galvbay.org.

State of the Bay Symposium proposals due Aug. 19

The Galveston Bay Estuary Program will host the 11th State of the Bay Symposium on January 22-23, 2020 at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston and is seeking proposals for presentations (read the full Call for Proposals). All proposals must be received in electronic format at the GBEP offices no later than close of business on August 19, 2019 via e-mail. Once the proposals have been reviewed, you will be notified if your presentation or session has been accepted for inclusion in the symposium by October 1. If you have questions, please contact Cynthia Clevenger at (281) 486-1245 or cynthia.clevenger@tceq.texas.gov. Or call our main number at 281-218-6461. Further information about the symposium will be placed on the TCEQ website and the GBEP website as it becomes available. 

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.

  • Dave Roberts explores Texas’s parks one step at a time
  • Efforts to save Chester Island in Matagorda Bay and the birds who nest there
  • Take a two-wheeled trip through the renewing Bastrop State Park

Additional Upcoming Events

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