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

Houston Environmental News Update December 16, 2020

Giving, Year in Review, WSFF, Flower Garden Banks Expansion, Virtual Rain Barrel Workshop, Virtual Winter Camp, Green Jobs, and more

We’re coming up on the last few shopping days before the holidays (for those who celebrate). What better way to show off your interest in the environment (and encourage your loved ones to share in it) than to give an environmentally themed gift from a local environmental nonprofit? Below are just a few ideas.

Of course, this is only a small sampling. Many of our member organizations would love to receive a gift donation during this holiday season. Find the one that most appeals to you or a loved one in our online directory.

Please scroll down to read about public engagement opportunities and notes from our member organizations and the community.

CEC NOTES

Virtually Wild! Field Trips

Need a virtual lesson, activity or field trip for your students? Send an email to SCA Americorps Intern Emma Wilson (emma.wilson@cechouston.org) to book and create a free, custom program that aligns to any of the Science TEKS. She is available any date and time from now until March. Or, join us for Virtually WILD Communities every Tuesday at 4:00 on Facebook Live (houstonwild) or 4:30 via Zoom (email emma.wilson@cechouston.org for the links). This program is great for all audiences, and gives Houstonians a chance to interact with various environmental professionals every week. Details at hereinhouston.org.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour

Tickets are on sale now for the Wild and Scenic Film Festival On Tour, hosted by CEC, on Jan. 29, 2021. Purchase your tickets today; they make a great holiday gift. Special thanks to our program sponsors: McMac CX and Veritex Bank. The Silent Auction is also back by popular demand. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com.

Year in Review: Let us know what you think!

Now that are approaching the end of 2020, what do you, our readers, believe have been the most significant environmental accomplishments, controversies, issues, news, and events in the greater Houston region so far this year?

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES

Learn more about public participation opportunities at cechouston.org/public-participation-opportunities/.

Comment Period Extended to Jan. 13, 2020: Coastal Texas Study

The United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office recently released plans for the Coastal Texas Study. Learn more and submit comments at swg.usace.army.mil. NOTE: Several area environmental groups have raised concerns about the draft reports. Watch a recent discussion on the study by those organizations here.

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).

Final Environmental Impact Statement on Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary expansion published

On Dec. 11, 2020 NOAA’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the expansion of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was published. This action follows the release of a proposed rule in May 2020 and a subsequent public comment period. Publication of the FEIS is not the final step in the expansion process. Following a 30-day review period, NOAA may decide to publish a final rule in the Federal Register, expanding Sanctuary. Once the final rule is published, the expansion would become effective after 45 days of continuous session of Congress. During that time, Congress will have the opportunity to review the final proposal. Find the full FEIS at noaa.gov.

Competitive Bid for Vegetation Management Firm

Bayou Preservation Association

Bayou Preservation Association is seeking an experienced vegetation management firm to undertake the identification and removal of invasive plant species in a 16.5 acre riparian project site in Harris County. Firm will be responsible for replanting native plants in areas at risk for recolonization by invasive plants. Native plants are provided by Bayou Preservation Association. In addition, the firm will provide oversight and training for volunteer and young adult conservation work crews secured by Bayou Preservation Association. To read the full bid solicitation, visit bayoupreservation.org.

Virtual Nature Events

Texas Parks & Wildlife is offering a host of online nature events from around the state through the end of the year and into 2021. You can find the listing at tpwd.texas.gov. The Smithsonian Institution also offers several online nature-themed events, which you can find at si.edu.

THEA Petition: San Jacinto River Waste Pits

The Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA) invites you to learn about their concerns regarding the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site. While progress has been made, THEA is urging the EPA to ensure that the toxic material is handled safely at every phase of the process. This includes safety measures for the workers handling the waste, best management practices to protect the environment, a careful plan for transporting the waste on our roadways, and proper disposal of the waste such that it will not negatively affect public health at its new location. THEA has organized a petition to demonstrate community support.

Celebrate the Holidays along Buffalo Bayou

Buffalo Bayou Partnership offer several ways to celebrate the season while staying safe:

Social Change Scientists Video Competition

Enter the McMac Cx, Air Champions – Social Change Scientists Video Competition. Simply create a 30 to 90 second video about air quality using provided prompts, and enter using this Google form. A winner will be announced at the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition’s Green Film Series event on Jan. 29, 2021. The winner will receive a state-of-the-art Flow Personal Pollution Monitor (PPM) valued at $150.00 from McMac Cx. Questions? Want to be on the selection committee? Want to learn more about Air Champions? Contact David McLean at david.maclean@mcmaccx.net or read the details on the Google form.

Wild Texas Film Tour available virtually in December

The Wild Texas Film Tour, which normally hosts screening events in cities throughout the state, has gone virtual this year for the entire month of December. Hosted by filmmaker and conservationist Ben Masters, the films showcase “wildlife, adventure, and conservation stories from across the state.” All of this year’s films will be available free of charge with a suggested donation to help cover the festival’s streaming costs and fund the next Wild Texas Short Film Grant. Among this year’s selections is Bayou City, a short film produced by Olivia Haun (Schmidt), the 2018 Wild Texas Film Tour Grant recipient and outreach specialist for the TPWD Wildlife Diversity Program. Bayou City was made to “shed light on the issues the bayou ecosystem have faced over the past century, and to share the successes that provide an alternative vision and relationship between Houston and its bayous.” The film features Mark Kramer of Armand Bayou Nature Center, Susan Chadwick and Tom Helm of Save Buffalo Bayou, Suzanne Simpson of Bayou Land Conservancy, Kelli Ondracek of Houston Parks & Recreation Department, and Diana Foss of TPWD Urban Wildlife Program.

Christmas Bird Counts

The 121st annual Christmas Bird Count is scheduled for December 14, 2020, through January 5, 2021. Organized by the National Audubon Society, this all-volunteer effort takes a snapshot of bird populations to monitor their status and distribution across the Western Hemisphere. Counts are open to birders of all skill levels. There is NO FEE to participate in Christmas Bird Counts. We encourage you to learn more about the counts–including a few dozen within a two-hour drive of downtown Houston–at HoustonAudubon.org. Unsurprisingly, adjustments are being made to the count to try reduce the risk of transferring the coronavirus. You can also participate from your yard or neighborhood as a feeder watcher. Regardless, be sure to coordinate with the compiler to find out how to participate.

Try counting these! “Attack of the Grackle Cloud,” (c) Adam Baker, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Virtual Rain Barrel Workshop

On Dec. 19, 2020, the Galveston Bay Foundation will host a Virtual Rain Barrel Workshop, where participants can learn how to use rain barrels to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff, pollution, and bacteria entering Galveston Bay. The $35.00 registration includes one barrel, one connector kit, and admission to the workshop for yourself and one guest). Barrels will be picked up by drive-through at the GBF offices, 1725 Highway 146, Kemah. For more information and to register, visit galvbay.org.

Virtual Winter Camp

From Dec. 28-31, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center will hold a Virtual Winter Camp for students ages 4-12. Participants will Investigate the adaptations and strategies animals use to survive till spring. They will learn about the challenges animals face during migration and learn how the Center’s year-round residents survive Houston’s wintry weather, meet some of our Animal Ambassadors, go for scavenger hunts, and perform winter experiments. For more information and to register, visit houstonarboretum.org. 

CELF Civic Science Scholarship applications open through Dec. 31

The Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation is leading a multi-state cohort of middle and high school teachers through student projects focusing on air quality. Teachers will receive an air quality monitor, a chance to connect with other teachers from other states through a virtual professional learning community, and the opportunity to have students present their air data findings – along with student-driven solutions – at the virtual CELF Student Symposium in Spring 2021. Applications are being accepted through Dec. 31, 2020. For more information and to apply, visit celfeducation.org.

Gulf Research Program Fellowships applications open

The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has opened the application period for its Science Policy Fellowship and Early-Career Research Fellowship (Track One: Human Health and Community Resilience). The Science Policy Fellowship helps scientists hone their skills by putting them to practice for the benefit of coastal communities and ecosystems. The application deadline is March 3, 2021. The Early-Career Research Fellowship supports emerging scientific leaders as they research ideas not yet tested, pursue collaborations, and build a network of colleagues who share their interest in improving offshore energy system safety and the well-being of coastal communities and ecosystems. The application deadline is Jan. 13, 2021. For more information, visit nationalacademies.org.

Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training Program applications

NOAA Fisheries is seeking proposals under the Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (Gulf B-WET) Program, which funds locally relevant, authentic experiential learning for K-12 audiences through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences. MWEEs are multi‐stage activities that include learning both outdoors and in the classroom and aim to increase understanding and stewardship of watersheds and related ocean, coastal, riverine, estuarine, and Great Lakes ecosystems. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Feb, 26, 2021. There will be explanatory webinars on Dec. 16, 2020, and Jan. 11, 2021. For more information and to register for the webinars, visit noaa.gov.

How to Have a Holiday Without Harming the Bay

The Galveston Bay Foundation reminds us that litter and trash impact Galveston Bay throughout the year and we tend to create even more trash during the holiday season. According to the EPA, “Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, American household waste increases by more than 25 percent. Trash cans full of holiday food waste, shopping bags, bows and ribbons, packaging, and wrapping paper contribute an additional 1 million tons a week to our landfills.” The GBF offers its Sustainable Gift Guide to help you reduce your household’s impact on the Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. You can learn more from the NOAA Marine Debris Program at noaa.gov.

Harris County Master Gardeners plant sales

Harris County Master Gardeners is offering contactless plant sales through the rest of this year and in 2021. All sales will be 100% online / pickup only. Products can be picked up from two locations. When checking out, patrons will be asked to choose your desired pick up location. For full details, visit hcmga-online.company.site.

Citizen Science Program for Bird Observation

The Audubon Society’s Texas Estuarine Resource Network (TERN) and the Harris County Department of Education are collaborating to bring a community-based citizen science program to prepare teachers and students in grades 5-12 as field researchers for bird observations. Participation in the project comes with field guides, binoculars, and a birding expert to help you learn the observation protocol.  If your school is within walking distance of a waterway (pond, bayou, creek, ditch) please contact Lisa Felske (lfelske@hcde-texas.org) to inquire about the program.

SFA Sustainability Degree Program

Stephen F. Austin State University offers an online bachelor’s degree in sustainability, designed to accommodate community college transfers or other students wanting to stay in their hometown location. The degree builds core competencies in sustainability, including local field experiences/internships in community development, grant writing, renewable energy, or sustainability assessment and monitoring. The degree offers flexibility to choose courses that fit students’ interests and schedules, merging environmental studies with economic, social and technical themes. For more information, please visit sfasu.edu or email Dr. Bill Forbes at forbesw@sfasu.edu. Additionally, the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies now has a fully online option to combine graduate courses in sustainability with those in business, geographic information systems, public administration, and social work or social science. A certificate in nonprofit management may be obtained within that program. For more information, visit sfasu.edu.

Recurring Events with Changing Content

Virtually WILD! field trips

Virtually WILD! offers the community a chance to interact with conservationists and wildlife live every week. Stay tuned for new programming in January. Corresponding activities and archived videos, as well as registration details, are available at hereinhouston.org.

ABNC “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.” 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 “Rewilding the Urban Wilderness“. Find all of the blog entries at abnc.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.

  • South Llano State Park, in the Hill Country, has the cure for what ails you. Tubing for the summer sizzle, biking for the weekend warrior, birding for the quiet escape, and some serious fly-fishing for those that crave a tug on the line
  • History is the highlight at Fort Richardson State Park, where buildings of this North Texas frontier fort continue to loom large. But even if today’s travelers aren’t settling the West, many still come to pitch tents and blaze trails
  • Abandoned by train traffic long ago, a century-old tunnel near Fredericksburg has become a seasonal home for millions of bats. Now this small state park provides a grand wildlife viewing opportunity on summer evenings
  • Huntsville State Park opens a door to 2000 acres of outdoor adventure. You can camp, mountain bike, and of course fish the day away on Lake Raven. Your East Texas Pineywoods adventure awaits*

Additional Upcoming Events

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