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Houston Environmental News Update September 16, 2020
September 17, 2020

Houston Environmental News Update September 16, 2020

Shiver me timbers! Estuaries, Pollution, Coasts, Galv Bay Grade, Voter Education & Registration, Bird Week Movie Night, Galveston Bay Report Card, Voter Education Forum, Houston Botanic Garden Opening, Hummingbird Xtravaganza, Bike to Work Week, Green Jobs, and more

Ahoy, Mateys! This week, we enjoy celebrating the sillier side of pirate lore on International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which is observed on Saturday. While pirates certainly have their less savory side, they had some of the best opportunities to observe Galveston Bay and our coasts–our theme for this week’s newsletter. In addition to ITLPD, over the next week or so we can observe International Coastal Cleanup Day, National Estuaries Week, National Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, and National Voter Registration Day. (Okay, that last one isn’t directly related to pirates, coasts, or estuaries, but perhaps to pollution, clean-ups, and the turning of the tide….)

International Coastal Cleanup Day: Ocean Conservancy is looking forward to safely celebrating the 2020 ICC this year–together apart–for our communities and for our ocean. The Ocean Conservancy is asking ocean lovers everywhere to #CleanOn. CEC was one of the local coordinators, along with KUFH and Armand Bayou Nature Center, for the first Texas Coastal Cleanup, in 1986, when nearly 3,000 people converged on state beaches to collect over 91 tons of trash.

The Texas General Land Office, which still coordinates coastal cleanups in Texas, recently announced its new publication, “A Guide to Living Shoreline in Texas.”

National Estuaries Week: Galveston Bay is one of 28 estuaries–where freshwater from rivers mix with saltwater from the sea–located in the U.S. that are designated as places of national significance. Curious about how Galveston Bay is doing?

This week, Galveston Bay Foundation and the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) released the 2020 Galveston Bay Report Card, which assesses the health of the bay and its ecosystem. The categories and indicators are graded like a school report card, with “A” being the best possible grade and “F” being the lowest possible grade. This year, the Overall Grade is “C.” Other categories include: Human Health Risks (C), Habitat (D), Water Quality (A), Coastal Change (C), Wildlife (C), and Pollution Events and Sources (C). To read the full report, visit galvbaygrade.org or download the PDF version.

National Pollution Prevention Week is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, which is aimed at reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of nontoxic or less toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and reusing materials rather than putting them into the waste stream. You can learn more on the EPA website, or join the Pollution Prevention University webinar series offered by the EPA and the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable.

Speaking of coasts and the Ocean, the Only One Collective (founded by Blue Sphere Foundation, Lonely Whale, and SeaLegacy) today announced the launch of Only One, a digital platform developed as a home for stories, solutions, and community action to protect the ocean, tackle the climate crisis, and fuel the movement for a more just, equitable planet. The platform uses world-class creative content and meaningful calls to action to drive impact. 

Last week, we shared information about Houston Audubon’s #HoustonBirdWeek, which is in full swing. And, if you have a building over three stories high, keep up with their Birdcast Lights Out Action Alerts during fall migration, when nearly a billion birds will migrate through our region.

This coming Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day. If you have not yet registered to vote, please do so. If you cannot register to vote–because you already have or you are ineligible to do so–you can still encourage other people to register to vote. 60% of eligible voters are never asked to register. You don’t have that excuse. Register now! #voteready

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

CEC NOTES

Our Environment, Your Vote: A Voter Education Forum

On Sept. 17, 2020, from 6-7:30 p.m., the Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience; Mi Familia Vota; the Houston Sierra Club; LINK Houston, the CEC, and other organizations will present an online voter education and civic engagement forum to provide all the information citizens need to vote in the upcoming elections. It will also focus on which elected positions that have an impact on the environmental issues that many Texans care about. For more information, see the Facebook event.

Bird Week Virtual Movie Night

Celebrate Houston Bird Week, led by Houston Audubon’s Young Professionals Advisory Council, with a virtual movie night. Tune in on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. The first thirty minutes is especially designed for children, and features a live Q&A with the star of the movie Wild Birds. The second part of the program includes three inspiring, short films and a panel discussion hosted by Houston Audubon. Order free tickets online at eventbrite.com.

Environmental Educators Exchange Meetups

CEC’s Environmental Educators Exchange Virtual Meetups will resume on Sept. 25 from 9-9:30 a.m. Join us for a chance to connect with fellow educators, swap stories and help one another navigate digital EE programming. Sign up on the Google Form to get a meeting link.  

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.

Tickets 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. Find full details and purchase tickets here.

Houston’s Virtual Green Job Program

At this unique program on October 6 from 3-5 p.m, students will have a chance to meet in small groups with professionals who make saving the planet their life work. Ask questions, learn how to pursue a green career, and inquire about internships/job shadowing opportunities. CEC is also seeking professionals to participate. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Tickets on Sale: 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. The festival will tell the story of local environmental issues, their champions and how you can make a difference. The festival will be held virtually to protect the health and safety of our community in these times. Stay tuned for additional promotions. Purchase tickets online at eventbrite.com.

Future CEC Event

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).

Celebrate Commute Solutions Month in September

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.

Houston Climate Week continues through Sept. 18

In commemoration of the third anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, the City of Houston’s Office of Sustainability is hosting a virtual Houston Climate Week through Sept. 18, 2020 (rescheduled from August) to officially kick off the implementation phase of the Houston Climate Action Plan released earlier this year. 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.

Earlier this week, the City of Houston’s Mayor’s Office released the Houston Climate Impact Assessment to better illustrate how climate change will impact Houston’s future based on lower and higher scenarios of future climate change. The assessment, conducted by Anne Stoner and Katharine Hayhoe of ATMOS Research & Consulting, studied 25 separate future climate indicators, including the number of days with temperatures above 100 degrees, the number of nights above 80 degrees, total annual precipitation, days with precipitation above 4 inches, and the annual number of dry days.

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.

Ask an Ecologist

On Sept. 17, 2020 beginning at 3 p.m., Bayou Land Conservancy will a “Ask an Ecologist” Facebook Live event. Attendees can submit nature-related questions or topics and receive answers live. For more information, visit the Facebook event.

Designing with Native Plants: The Art (and Science) of Balancing Ecology, Texture and Color

On Sept. 17, 2020, beginning at 7 p.m., the Houston chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will hold a virtual meeting featuring Philippa Johnstone, native horticulturalist with the Memorial Park Conservancy. She will provide a “behind the scenes” look at the work of a native landscape designer, into the creative process of incorporating various colors and textures to  create a unique, aesthetically pleasing, and ecologically restorative place.For more details and information on how to connect, visit npsot.org.

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, 2020, 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 for Pollinators BioBlitz

From Sept. 19-27, 2020, the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, will host a Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz. It’s a free event where people take and upload photos, using the iNaturalist app, of plants and wildlife to learn more about nature in our area. All ages are invited to participate. For more information, visit houstonarboretum.org.

Thank You for Biting: Can non-lethal predation help prey?

On Sept. 20, 2020, from 6-7 p.m., Christ the King Lutheran Church will present a webinar featuring Rice University Professor Adrienne Correa, who will discuss coral reefs and their relationship with their predators. Correa’s group is investigating a surprising indirect benefit that corals receive from being preyed upon by non-lethal predators: a supply of microorganisms for their microbiome. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

HoustonXDesign Week – “Foresight 2020”

From Sept. 21-25, 2020, the  AIA Houston Interior Architecture Committee will present the fourth annual “HoustonXDesign Week, focusing on “Vision for Interior Architecture and Design.” It will include a variety of activities and venues highlighting the work of interior architects, designers, workplace experts, artists, and maker culture. Through a variety of tours, lectures, and exhibits, we bring together an array of disciplines and explore the many facets of design in corporate, hospitality and academic spaces throughout Houston. For more information and to register, visit aiahouston.org.

Bike to Wherever Day; Commute Solutions #BiketoWork Week

As part of Commute Solutions Month, the Houston-Galveston Area Council is spearheading #BiketoWork Week from Sept. 21-24, 2020. Post your picture (and gain a little street cred) in H-GAC’s Bike to Anywhere Social Media Event. For more information, visit yourcommutesolution.org. On Sept. 22, Houston Bikeways is sponsoring Bike to Wherever Day. Learn more at houstonbikeplan.org.

Sustainability in the Remote Classroom

On Sept. 22, 2020, from 5-6:30 p.m., EcoRise will present a webinar for current K-12 teachers that will explore best practices for integrating sustainability lessons and activities into remote classroom using research-based methods. The interactive learning experience will explore an EcoRise remote lesson and discuss strategies that can be used to ensure students and teachers get the most out of the experiences while leveraging the unique opportunities remote learning provides. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

Online exhibition: Yue Nakayama’s Nonplus

On Sept. 23, 2020, beginning at noon, Diverseworks will launch the online exhibition of Yue Nakayama’s new work Nonplus, which examines the idea of empathy and survival in relation to the current societal and environmental crisis. The project will be performed and filmed in Houston and other areas of the southwest region of the US in anticipation of a large-scale video installation in the gallery with an entryway that alludes to a storefront “open” for business. In the interim, an online, virtual version of the Nonplus project will be presented. For more information, visit diverseworks.org.

P2 Virtual Assessment Training

On Sept. 23, 2020, from 2-3 p.m., EPA Region 6 will host a free, virtual P2 Virtual Assessment Training. P2 grantees from Louisiana State University, New Mexico State University, and University of Texas at Arlington will be presenting the training. Lessons learned from this training can be applied to all sectors, including energy, agriculture, federal, consumer, and industrial. For more information and to register, visit eventsquid.com.

A Photographic Guide to Vegetation of the South Texas Sand Sheet

On Sept. 23, 2020, beginning at 7:30 p.m., the Houston chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas will hold an online meeting featuring Forrest S. Smith, director of the Texas Native Seeds Program at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He will discuss his book about the South Texas Sand Sheet, one of the most botanically diverse and most intact natural ecosystems in Texas. Register for the meeting at zoom.us.

Community Update: Mercury Testing of Berry Bayou

On Sept. 24, 2020, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Bayou City Waterkeeper, Caring for Pasadena Communities, and Lone Star Legal Aid will hold an online update about their successful efforts to push the City of South Houston to continue testing for mercury at its wastewater treatment plant along Berry Bayou in southeast Harris County. Attendees will learn more about this victory and how to protect the community’s health from harmful water pollution. To register for the meeting, zoom.us.

2020 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards

Each year, the Governor’s Office and commissioners from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality honor the state’s most outstanding environmental projects through the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. Winners from across the state exemplify how Texans set the standard for ensuring clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste. The application period for the 2021 awards is now open. See the winner videos for 2020. Applications will be accepted through Friday, September 25, 2020.

Celebrating GoMRI around the Gulf

In the immediate aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), led by an independent academic research board, launched a $500 million mission to study the effect of oil spills on the environment and public health. On Sept. 25, 2020, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., the GoMRI will host an online event celebrating it partnership with Texas. For more information and to register, visit gulfseagrant.org.

17th Annual Run in the Park (virtual)

From September 26 through October 3, 2020, Hermann Park Conservancy’s 17th Annual Run in the Park is taking place virtually. That means you can run, or walk, a 5K or 10K between those dates in Hermann Park or from the comfort of your own area, while still supporting the Park. Registration costs $20 for the 5K and 10K events. As thanks, you’ll receive a Run in the Park t-shirt mailed right to your door, as well as gifts from Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Shake Shack. For more information and to register, visit hermannpark.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.

“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 “Armand Bayou Osprey“. 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.

  • Three Texas universities have teamed up with the Parks and Wildlife Department to determine how agriculture may affect mule deer movements and survival in the Texas Panhandle.
  • At the far southeast corner of Texas lies a remote and unique coastal park that few folks know about. From coastal fishing, to crabbing, to kayaking the marshland, Sea Rim State Park has something for everyone.
  • Researchers study the hidden lives of Texas dinosaurs through the use of both cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned scientific method through the analysis of their prehistoric tracks. Dinosaur Valley State Park has some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world.

Additional Upcoming Events

Check out the latest Green Jobs at cechouston.org/green-jobs/.