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Houston Environmental News Update September 9, 2020
September 9, 2020

Houston Environmental News Update September 9, 2020

Houston Audubon Bird Week, Wildscapes Workshop, The Condor and the Eagle, Beautify the Bucket, Houston Climate Week, Great Texas Birding Classic registration, Green Jobs, and more

If the plethora of environmental activities this month are any indication, we seem to be figuring out how to be green in the time of COVID. So many great activities are happening–and coming up–that we’ve got to get out ahead of them. Scroll down for current events from CEC and other organizations, including the tail end of the NPSOT Wildscapes Workshop, Houston Climate Week (rescheduled), a Purple Martin Migration Madness Party, and All Things Coastal Trivia Night with Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary–and those are just a few things in the next week. For now, we’d like to draw your attention to the upcoming Houston Audubon Bird Week, which officially starts on September 19. 

The annual Bird Week was started in 2019 by Houston Audubon’s inaugural Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC) to commemorate the organization’s 50th birthday. Bird Week is about celebrating the important role Houston plays in the journey of billions of migratory birds and the everyday lives of our resident birds. Houston Audubon and local conservation partners arrange a week of events centered around our region’s birds and wildlife – from bird walks to mindfulness talks to Purple Martin watch parties, there is something for all Houstonians to enjoy. Your participation and excitement will help our city continue to be a welcoming home for birds. Houston Audubon is excited to include great virtual programs this year. In-person experiences will have extra precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

CEC is excited to be a partner organization, co-hosting a night of four short bird-themed films the evening of September 24, 2020, including The Fight for Flight.

Get chirping on social media; use #HoustonBirdWeek to share your excitement! 

Next week’s newsletter will have info about international and Texas coast cleanups, marine pollution, estuaries, and pirates (!) along with a little bit of National Voter Registration Day.

Please scroll down to read notes from our member organizations and the community.

CEC NOTES

Tickets Now on Sale: The Condor and the Eagle

On September 30, 2020, the Houston Green Film Series presents the Houston Premiere of “The Condor and the Eagle.” The film features Indigenous People at the forefront of the environmental justice movement as they promote intercultural dialogue and build new models for sustainability.⁣ The film is both empowering and inspiring, and features stories from right here in Houston. Join us for a panel discussion afterwards including local environmental justice champions. Purchase sliding-scale tickets online with this link. 

Call for submissions: Wild About Houston Green Film Festival

The CEC is proud to host the third annual Wild About Houston Green Film Festival on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. CEC hopes to use this festival to tell local environmental stories, highlight the work of CEC’s member organizations, and to inspire our residents and visitors to make a difference in the environment and our quality of life. The festival will be held virtually to protect the health and safety of our community in these times. We invite you to submit a film for consideration. Films should be specific to the environment in the Houston/Gulf Coast Region, should be no more than seven minutes long, and must be of suitable quality to be shown publicly. Find the Submission Guidelines here, and make submissions here.

TAEE Conference registration now available

CEC is proud to partner with the Texas Association for Environmental Education to host a virtual conference on September 25 & 26, 2020. CEC encourages all of our environmental educators to register and actively participate. Highlights include a special session for pre-service teachers, a preview of a new Texas wildlife movie, and a focus on quality virtual programming. Please share the opportunity within your own networks, and contact info@taee.org if you have any questions. Learn more at taee.org and register online.

Teacher Workshop: Fall Gardens

On Sept. 15, 2020, CEC will host a virtual Teacher Workshop featuring Janice Brown of On the Grow. Learn how to set up a fall garden on your campus, or how to coach students through setting one up in their own backyards. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Trivia Night: All Things Coastal

On Sept. 16, 2020, from 6-7 p.m, CEC and the NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary will host a virtual trivia night to test your knowledge about the ocean. This event is kid-, family-, and pet-friendly. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Future CEC Events

COALITION & COMMUNITY NOTES

We have endeavored to confirm the opportunities listed below. Please consider confirming directly with the hosts, particularly in light of concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and Hurricane Laura.

NPSOT Wildscapes Workshop

The Native Prairies Society of Texas, Houston chapter’s Wildscapes Workshop fundraiser begins this week. The NSOCT donates most funds raised to various nature centers and programs to restore habitat throughout our region. Several online talks are scheduled. The Native Plant Sale follows with online purchasing for Wildscapes Registrants on Sept 12, for the public on Sep 13. Pickup will be the weekend of Sept 19-20. Registration is now open at npsot.org.

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Celebrate Commute Solutions Month September 2020

The Houston-Galveston Area Council is excited to help our region explore the many commute options that are available in Greater Houston. Carpool, telecommute, transit, walk, bike, and compressed work weeks have all been important tools for managing congestion and improving air quality in our neighborhoods and on our highways. And in recent months, telecommuting has taken center stage as a primary tool for resiliency in the middle of COVID. Learn more at yourcommutesolution.org.

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting

On Sept. 10, from 9 a.m.-1:15 p.m., the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will hold a webinar meeting. The agenda will focus on fishing regulations and the recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding sanctuary expansion. Also, a presentation titled, “Deepwater Horizon NRDA (Natural Resource Damage Assessment): Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities Restoration” will be given by NOAA’s Kris Benson. A public comment period begins at 1 p.m.  If you want to make public comments, you must join the webinar online. Alternatively, during the meeting, you can email your comments  to flowergarden@noaa.gov or text them to 979-777-3895 and a staff member will read them on your behalf. Public comments will be limited to three (3) minutes each. Register to join the webinar online at gotowebinar.com. To just listen in by phone, call: (562) 247-8321 and use the Audio Access Code: 137-881-130.

Community Projects and Spirit of Community Awards

On Sept. 10, 2020, from 1-2:15 p.m., the Gulf of Mexico Climate and Resilience Community of Practice will host a webinar in which two communities will share their stories of tackling climate resilience. The Climate and Resilience Community of Practice annually awards to one individual and one community the Spirit of Community Award. The webinar will include a short award ceremony to announce the winners and acknowledge their achievements. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Design Principles for Online EE Programs

On Sept. 10, 2020, from 3-4 p.m., the North American Association for Environmental Education will present a webinar on promising approaches to online EE programs. Presenters will share results from a systematic literature review conducted to identify what approaches appear to work best for virtual EE field trips and activities. Educators will learn about evidence-based design principles that can be integrated into fall programs. For more information and to register, visit naaee.org.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby Forum on Climate Change

On Sept. 10, 2020, from 6-8 p.m., the Houston chapter of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby will host a a climate forum with area congressional candidates to discuss their proposals for addressing climate change. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Houston Sierra Club meeting: Friends of Don Greene Park

On Sept. 10, 2020, beginning at 7:30 p.m, the Houston Group of the Lone Star Sierra Club will present a webinar featuring Shawn McFarland, who will discuss the Friends of Don Greene, a nonprofit dedicated to the memory of Don Greene, a local environmental activist and outdoor educator who took many Houstonians on the rivers of West Texas, central Texas and Buffalo Bayou. After his passing in August 2014, other activists and friends banded together to honor his life, and to maintain a 1-acre nature park to memorialize his contributions to outdoor education. This Park has been donated to Harris County Precinct 3. Find the meeting at zoom.us.

Virtual 2020 Bays and Bayous Symposium abstracts due Sept. 11

The 2020 Bays and Bayous Symposium will be held virtually from December 1-3. The theme for the virtual event is “Sound Science, Sound Policy: A 2020 Vision for the Future”. The symposium focuses on (but is not limited to) coastal science research, education and outreach in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Scientists from universities, NGOs and government agencies share their research findings at the event, and leaders from coastal municipalities showcase their resilience and conservation efforts. Educators and extension professionals also present their research and successful outreach efforts. The deadline for abstracts has been extended to Friday, Sept. 11. For more information, visit bbs20.baysandbayous.org.

Artist Boat’s Beautify the Bucket Judging and Awards Ceremony

Artist Boat’s Beautify the Bucket Competition is designed to allow citizens to take an active role in beautifying Galveston’s beaches in a way that also encourages better stewardship behaviors in others. All barrels in the Fall 2020 competition will be displayed and judged on Saturday, September 12, from 8 a.m.-noon at Menard Park in Galveston, with winners announced at noon. For more information, visit artistboat.org.

Houston Climate Action Plan Discussion with Lara Cottingham

On Sept. 12, 2020, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Houston chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby will host a discussion about building support for national climate legislation as well as the details and next steps for Houston’s Climate Action Plan, presented by Lara Cottingham, the city’s chief sustainability officer.

Water Quality and Water Conservation for Houses of Worship and Their Members

On Sept. 13, 2020, from 2-3:30 p.m. the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston will host a webinar featuring Sarah Gossett Robinson, Senior Community Liaison for Houston Water, who will discuss how houses of worship and their congregants can assist in conserving water and preserving water quality. The presentation will outline Houston Water’s community engagement, outreach, and informal education strategies that complement engineered solutions to improve the City’s drinking and wastewater infrastructure, including opportunities for partnership for houses of worship and their members to further engage with these initiatives. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Purple Martin Migration Madness Watch Party

From July to September, Houston’s Purple Martins form large flocks and roost together in preparation for migration. On Sept. 13, 2020, beginning at 7:30 p.m., Houston Audubon and the Piney Wood Audubon Society will host a watch party for the Purple Martin migration in front of Old Navy at the Fountains in Stafford at 12634 Fountain Lake Circle, Stafford. For more information and to register, visit houstonaudubon.org.

The Great Texas Birding Classic registration through Sept. 14

The 24th Annual Great Texas Birding Classic, sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife, will be held Oct. 1-31, 2020. Birders of all ages and levels of experience are welcome to join this Texas birdwatching event during the amazing fall migration. Registration fees raise money for Texas bird and birding conservation project grants. In light of the ongoing health concerns, organizers have made several rule modifications and tweaked tournament categories to better suit the guidelines for the state of Texas. Registration continues through September 14. For more information, visit tpwd.texas.gov.

Houston Climate Week rescheduled to Sept. 14-18

In commemoration of the third anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, the City of Houston’s Office of Sustainability will host a virtual Houston Climate Week from Sept. 14-18, 2020 (rescheduled from August) to officially kick off the implementation phase of the recently-released Houston Climate Action Plan. There will be a series of online talks throughout the week. Speakers include leaders from the City of Houston, Google, Tesla, bp, NRG, EVolve Houston, CenterPoint, ENGIE, GHP, Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, Texas PACE Authority, Marvin Odum, Dr. Robert Bullard, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, METRO, Greentown Labs, Sunnova, BQ Energy, Sunnyside, LINK Houston, The Nature Conservancy, Katy Prairie Conservancy, and Asakura Robinson. For the full listing of talks and to register, visit eventbrite.com. Members of the public are also invited to sign up to join the Plan’s implementation working groups. To sign up, visit eventbrite.com.

Gulf Coast Land Conservation Conference

The Gulf Coast Land Conservation Conference, hosted by the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, a gathering of land conservation practitioners in the Gulf of Mexico region, will be held virtually Sep. 14-17, 2020. The theme of the 2020 Annual Conference is Why Land Conservation Matters. For more information and to register, visit gulfpartnership.org.

Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable

On Sept. 14, 2020, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., the Houston-Galveston Area Council will host an online Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable. Attendees will hear from Daveyon Edwards, Keep Angleton Beautiful Coordinator, who will share some tips and tricks on researching and applying for funding. This will be followed by time a robust roundtable conversation about ongoing and upcoming activities and events in your areas. For more information and to register, visit h-gac.com.

Lights Out for Birds

Most North American migratory birds fly at night, and lights on buildings can disorient birds on their paths, resulting in fatal collisions. The Upper Texas Coast plays a key role on the Central Flyway, an important migratory path for birds. Birds that move along and across the Gulf of Mexico depend on safe passage through the Houston-Galveston area. From Sept. 15-Nov. 15, Houston Audubon is participating in “Lights Out for Birds,” an effort to reduce light pollution in the region. For more information and to make a pledge to help reduce light pollution, visit houstonaudubon.org.

Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program deadline is Sept. 15

The Clear Lake Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas awards grants to nature centers, schools, educational groups and others to help fund development and maintenance of pollinator habitats using native plants, shrubs or trees on public sites in Brazoria, Galveston or Harris Counties of Texas. For the 2020–2021 period, individual grants of up to $500 may be awarded and the grantee is not required to spend their own funds to match the amount of the grant given. Applications will be accepted for new habitats or for improvement and maintenance of established pollinator habitats. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2020. For complete information and to apply, visit npsot.org.

Sustainability and Remote PBL Workshop

On Sept. 16, 2020, from 5:30-7 p.m., EcoRise will host a webinar on educators can take advantage of EcoRise’s vast library of digital resources for K-12 project-based learning. Attendees will explore standards-aligned sustainability and design thinking lessons for K-12 students that can be easily adapted into a problem-based, virtual/remote learning experience for students. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Community Outdoor Outreach Program grants available

Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program is now accepting applications for outdoor education programming. CO-OP grants provide funding to tax-exempt organizations for programming that engages under-represented populations in TPWD mission-oriented outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education activities. Grant awards range between $5,000 – $30,000 for eligible activities that take place between March 1, 2021 – September 1, 2022. Recreation Grants staff will host a CO-OP Grant Writing Webinar on Tuesday, September 15 at 9 a.m. This webinar will discuss grant program requirements, provide an overview of the application process, review the newly modified scoring criteria and answer questions from applicants. Register for the webinar at gotowebinar.com. Applications are available now via the RGO 2020 system and the deadline is November 6, 2020 at 5 p.m CST. For more information and to apply, please visit tpwd.texas.gov.

Houston Botanic Garden Opening

The Houston Botanic Garden will officially open its gates to an oasis of learning, discovery, and horticultural beauty on Friday, Sept. 18, kicking off a series of opening season weekends with special educational opportunities that will showcase Houston’s cultural richness and biodiversity. Come take a stroll among beautiful plants and trees as you engage your senses while discovering the unexpected in Houston’s new living museum for plants. Join the Garden Sept. 18-20 to see and learn more about how Latin American cultures use a variety of plants from the region — in cooking, crafting, and more — that are featured in its global collection. For more information, see the Facebook event.

Understanding Funder Response to the COVID – 19 Pandemic

On Sept. 18, 2020, beginning at noon, the Glasscock School for Continuing Education at Rice University will present a free discussion on how Houston-area funders are navigating the COVID – 19 pandemic and how some are trying to use this moment to improve responsiveness in the funder community. Attendees will dive into new data and insight into evolving funder practices. For more information and to register, visit glasscock-info.rice.edu.

Virtual Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza

On Sept. 18 and 26, 2020, the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory will present its annual “Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza” virtually. Taking place at the peak of hummingbird migration, XHX is a once-a-year opportunity to see these amazing birds up close. Watch on Facebook Live as staff and volunteeers carefully catch and band these tiny travelers and sign up to symbolically adopt one. The event will also include guest speakers, live animals, kids’ activities, and the chance to shop the online gift shop. For more information, see the Facebook event.

Bird Week 2020

Houston Audubon is celebrating its annual Bird Week virtually, from Sept. 19-26, 2020. Bird Week is about celebrating the important role Houston plays in the journey of billions of migratory birds and the everyday lives of our resident birds. Houston Audubon and local conservation partners arrange a week of events centered around our region’s birds and wildlife – from bird walks to mindfulness talks to Purple Martin watch parties, there is something for all Houstonians to enjoy. For the full schedule of events and information, visit houstonaudubon.org.

Parks and Natural Areas Awards Application Period Now Open

H-GAC’s 15th annual Parks and Natural Areas (PNA) Awards program is now accepting applications. The Parks and Natural Areas Awards honor projects in four categories: Projects Over $500,000; Projects Under $500,000; Planning Process; and Policy Tools. Winning entries serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. The application period will be open until 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 30. An online application guide is available. No funding is associated with this awards program. Winners will be notified in December and recognized in 2021. For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo at 832-681-2507.

The Great Texas Birding Classic Conservation Grants proposals due Oct. 1

Do you have a habitat conservation, acquisition, or enhancement project to fund that will benefit native, wild, and unrestrained birds? Do you have an enhancement project that will improve or enhance access for birders and wildlife watchers while protecting habitat for birds? Submit your project proposal now to be eligible for potential funding from the Great Texas Birding Classic. Visit Conservation Grants for project criteria, proposal form, and a list of previously funded projects. Select winning teams choose which conservation projects are funded each year, and selected projects will be announced by the end of December. The deadline for proposals is Oct. 1, 2020.

Apply to join the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council

The World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council helps develop World Oceans Day into a unique opportunity to connect and unite youth and others around our blue planet, with the focus on action for a healthier ocean and more sustainable society. All young people, between the ages of 16 and 24, are invited to apply. Applications for the newest contingent are due Oct. 2, 2020. To apply, visit surveymonkey.com.

Public comment sought on 2020 Forest Action Plan

The Texas A&M Forest Service has updated the 2020 Forest Action Plan and is requesting public comments through October 11, 2020, before a final version is published at the end of the year. The Texas Forest Action Plan is a resource strategy document that is updated every five years and is based on an assessment conducted in that time frame. This assessment is to identify the issues, threats, and opportunities of state forest resources. Five primary issues were identified based on input from interested stakeholders from across the state: 1) Urban Forest Sustainability 2) Central Texas Woodlands Conservation 3) Sustainability of Forest Resources in East Texas 4) Water Resources and 5) Wildfire and Public Safety. The plan was developed based on three national themes: conserve working forests, protect forests from harm, and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. Read the Forest Action Plan at texasforestinfo.tamu.edu and provide comment using this Google form. If you have any questions please contact Mac Martin, Staff Forester, at mac.martin@tfs.tamu.edu.

Ask an Ecologist

Every Thursday through September 24, beginning at 3 p.m., Bayou Land Conservancy will present a Facebook Live event called “Ask an Ecologist.” Attendees can submit nature-related questions or topics and receive answers live. For more information, visit the Facebook event.

“Houston and Nature” podcast

Nivien Saleh, a political scientist, video producer, and volunteer member of Houston’s environmental community, hosts a podcast, “Houston and Nature,” in which she interviews prominent members of the greater Houston environmental community about the strengths and weaknesses of the community and ways to improve it. The latest episode is “So You Can Heal from Poison: Jackie Young, the San Jacinto Waste Pits, and Other Toxic Sites.”

“Nature as Nature” blog

The Armand Bayou Nature Center offers its “Nature as Normal” blog as a means to “remember that things are still happening as normal in the bigger picture, and that we’ll all be back to normal soon too.” Each entry features photographs by award-winning kayaking photographer Gary Seloff and ABNC Volunteer Photo Walk Leader Lyman Brown, with commentary by ABNC’s Conservation Director and Chief Naturalist, Mark Kramer. The latest entry is titled “The Urban Alligator – Part 2.” Find all of the blog entries at abnc.org.

COVID-19 Registry seeks public’s input

The COVID-19 Registry, spearheaded by Rice University with partnering organizations, is a research study that provides real-time information to health departments on the spread of COVID-19, who is being affected, and how. The registry will help to: track virus spread over time and across geography; measure economic and health impacts; understand behavior in response to policy changes; and identify popular and effective sources of information. Data from the registry will be stored in a highly secure system built by Rice University. Things learned from the registry will be published, but will not include any information that would identify participants. For more information and to take the survey, visit rice.edu. Read the most up-to-date findings here.

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.

  • Meet a biologist that studies aquatic invertebrates. He’s Dr. Archis Grubh, and he loves bugs. Check out some of the two-thousand different types of aquatic invertebrates living in the rivers, streams, and creeks of Texas
  • The slightly rolling plains of west central Texas are covered in scrubs like mesquite and juniper. Lake Colorado City is a cool contrast to the arid environment. Visitors from nearby cities like Abilene and Midland come to Lake Colorado City State Park to enjoy the best water recreation spot for miles around
  • Soak in the scenery around the lake, along the trails, and among the hills and hollows of Lake Mineral Wells State Park

Additional Upcoming Events