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Houston Environmental News Update February 9, 2022
February 10, 2022

Houston Environmental News Update February 9, 2022

VOTE on Valentines Day! Cupid Cruises, Blackwood Skyfarm Valentine, Living Roofs for Living Cities, Walk on the Wild Side, Super Bowl Sunday Hike, Photographic Texas Prairies, Green Jobs and more

Celebrate on Monday, February 14, 2022, with votes & valentines. Early voting for the Texas primaries begins on Feb. 24, and end on Feb. 25, with Election Day on March 1, 2022.

Not sure whether you are registered or how to register? Want to see what will be on the ballot, or where to vote? You can visit votetexas.gov or contact the elections office for your county (listed below).

As always, we encourage you to visit the League of Women Voters of Houston website–and their national voting website vote411.com–to learn more about elections. The League is a nonpartisan organization that believes in the power of every person to create a more perfect democracy and provide helpful information about candidates and recent changes to the Texas Election Code.

For additional information about environmental voting, visit the Environmental Voter Project, because when environmentalists don’t vote, politicians don’t listen.

Cupid Cruises on Buffalo Bayou

Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s pontoon tour boat for a cozy cruise with your Valentine. Bubbly beverages and chocolate bites will be provided during a romantic evening boat ride with spectacular views of downtown Houston. Learn more at buffalobayou.org.

Valentine’s Day Reception at the Blackwood Skyfarm

On Monday, Feb., 14, 2022, celebrate Valentine’s Day with Blackwood Educational Land Institute and POST Houston at a fundraising reception for the Blackwood Skyfarm! Learn about Blackwood Educational Land Institute and hear about plans for the one-of-a-kind, one-acre rooftop farm atop POST Houston while enjoying wine and dessert with the Houston skyline as the backdrop. Sip and sow into the early evening with eco-friendly wines specially selected by friends at Central City Co-Op and a seasonal dessert made by Blackwood’s very own Chef Cade. Purchase tickets at blackwoodland.org.

CEC NOTES

Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

Engage your students with lessons outdoors or virtually. Sign up today at hereinhouston.org.

Join fellow environmental educators every other Friday morning for a quick check-in to collaborate. Bring your coffee (or tea) and ideas for things that are working in your programs (or questions about things that are not). The Zoom call is hosted by regional board members from the Texas Association for Environmental Education. The next meeting will be held Feb. 11, 2022 from 8:30-9 a.m. Click on this Zoom link to join. Email Alicia at amein@hcp4.net for any questions.

The Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers a free resource which offers a clear overview of the physical science of climate change while addressing the social science that makes teaching about it a different kind of challenge than teaching photosynthesis (for example). The book and online presentation also dig into the science and its scary implications without losing hope. The session will include an overview of the book, discussion of how and why to keep hope in approaching the teaching of climate change, and some time for open discussion. Learn more and find the materials at oceanservice.noaa.gov.

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

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call

EPA invites Environmental Justice (EJ) advocates to participate in the next National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call on Feb. 22, 2022 from 1-3 p.m. (Central Time). The purpose of these calls is to inform the public about EPA’s environmental justice work and enhance opportunities to maintain an open dialogue with environmental justice advocates. These calls are free and open to the public. Register at eventbrite.com.

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).

My Earth My Texas and the Business Sustainability Challenge

EarthShare Texas is asking Texans that are proud of their sustainable choices to compete in the #MyEarthMyTexas Challenge. Participants who show off their sustainability skills can win cool prizes for an eco-lifestyle. Learn more and register here. They are also sponsoring the Texas Business Sustainability Challenge, a friendly competition among Texas businesses to engage remote and on-site employees and quantify the collective impact of sustainable lifestyle choices. Businesses must register by March 11, 2022 to reserve their spots. Learn more and register here.

Living Roofs for Living Cities

On Feb. 10, 2022, from 7:30-9 p.m., the Houston chapter of the Sierra Club will hold a virtual meeting featuring a presentation by Bruce Dvorak, Texas A&M University professor of architecture, on living roofs for living cities. Living roofs are vegetated rooftops (green roofs) designed to make cities more livable for people, plants, and animals. Green roofs reduce urban flooding, conserve energy use in buildings, protect waterproofing from hail damage and extend the life of the roof. The talk will explore how native landscapes have become a source of inspiration for a new generation of green roofs that make habitats for pollinators, migratory birds, and more. For more information and to register, visit meetup.com.

Complete Communities University

The City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods invites Houston residents to apply for enrollment in the Complete Community University online leadership training course. The winter session will run eight-weeks, March 2 to April 20, 2022. Classes will be held on Wednesdays, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., via Microsoft Teams. Offered each quarter, the CCU program coaches emerging leaders on civic engagement methods and techniques, cultivates positive relationships between community leaders and the City of Houston, and promotes the participation of residents in civic activities to vitalize neighborhoods. The enrollment application deadline is Feb. 11, 2022. To learn more and apply, visit houstontx.gov.

Walk on the Wild Side

On Feb. 12, 2022, from 10-11 a.m., the Nature Discovery Center will host a socially distanced walk through the park to see lizards, peer into the trees for looks at birds, discover the latest blooms and their pollinators in the Pocket Prairie, spy on the secret life of animals that hide under logs, and investigate more seasonal nature surprises. Learn some tips to explore nature with your family in your own backyard or on your travels. This event is a family event for kids 4 and up with their parents or adult caregivers. For more information and to register, visit naturediscoverycenter.org.

Witness: The Long Arc, Part 1

On Feb. 12, 2022, from 10 a.m.-noon, Houston Botanic Garden will host a presentation exploring the many profound experiences of African-Americans with the land of Southeast Texas –  some uplifting and celebratory, some rooted in oppression and injustice – through dynamic, participatory breakout sessions on walks of the Garden. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hbg.org.

Climate Change and Impacts on Our Health

On Feb. 12, 2022, from 10:30-noon, the Houston chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby will hold a virtual monthly meeting featuring a presentation by Dr. William Brett Perkison M.D., MPH, of UT Health, who will speak about the impacts of climate change on human health. The meeting can be accessed through citizensclimate.zoom.us (passcode: 123), or by phone at 1-929-205-6099 (passcode 6963048644#),

Katy Prairie Conservancy Volunteer Orientation

On Feb. 12, 2022, from 12:30-2:30 p.m., Katy Prairie Conservancy will hold an orientation session for volunteers at the Indiangrass Preserve. This is a great training opportunity for new and current volunteers alike. Participants will learn about KPC’s latest news, updates on its preserves, history of the Katy Prairie, ecology of the coastal prairie, and important information on current volunteer opportunities. For more information and to register, visit katyprairie.org.

Super Bowl Sunday Hike

On Feb. 13, 2022, the Big Thicket Association will hold its popular Super Bowl Sunday Hike in the Big Thicket National Preserve‘s Kirby Nature Trail Inner Loop and to the Village Creek Iron Bridge. There are three loop options, ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 miles, pass through several plant communities, from baygalls to cypress sloughs to the riparian zone along Village Creek. Meet at the Kirby Nature trail-head at 1:30 p.m. on FM 420 with water, snacks, insect repellent, and good walking shoes. Participants can also meet the hike leader at the visitor center at 1:00 pm and caravan to the nearby trail-head at 1:15 p.m. Please note that except for service animals, pets are not permitted at public programs. To register, visit jotform.com.

Photographing Texas Prairies

On Feb. 14, 2022, beginning at 6:30 p.m., the Clear Lake Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will hold an online meeting featuring a presentation by professional photographer Sean Fitzgerald on how to photograph prairies for maximum impact, with a particular focus on often overlooked Texas prairie ecosystems. Learn valuable tips to take better photos using a variety of techniques to help you tell the stories you want to tell. For more information and to register, visit npsot.org/wp.

Clean Water Initiative Workshop

On Feb. 14, 2022, from 2-4 p.m., the Houston-Galveston Area Council will hold a Clean Water Initiative Workshop. The topic of the meeting will be “Navigating Texas Water Development Board Grants and Loans for Water and Wastewater.” For more information and to register, visit h-gac.com.

Port Houston’s Community Grants Program

Port Houston’s Community Grants Program is a community outreach initiative focused on investing resources into meaningful projects and programs that enhance local communities while advancing our mission and vision as a part of Port Houston’s 2020 Strategic Plan. The Community Grants Program offers the opportunity for qualifying organizations to apply for funding through an open, competitive application process. Port Houston is particularly interested in supporting programs or services that align with its current outreach priorities: Community Outreach, Economic and Workforce Development, Environmental Stewardship, and Maritime Commerce. Two online public workshops about the program are scheduled for Feb. 15, 2022, from 10-11 a.m.; and Feb. 24, 2022, from 1-2 p.m. Letters of Interest are due March 4, 2022. For complete information about the program, visit porthouston.com.

Resiliency and Recovery Workshop

On Feb. 16, 2022, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., the Texas Economic Development Council, in partnership with the International Sustainable Resiliency Center, will hold a free workshop focusing on preparing communities to be more resilient to navigate disasters of all kinds, to learn the best practices for business continuity and where to access resources to aid in economic recovery. The workshop will be held at the Houston Marriott Sugar Land. For more information and to register, visit texasedc.org.

Mercer Botanic Gardens Volunteer Orientation

On Feb. 16, 2022, from 6-7 p.m., Mercer Botanic Gardens will hold an orientation for prospective volunteers. The orientation will detail the various volunteer opportunities, from helping maintain our gardens, to plant propagation and sales, to educational programs and the Mercer Ambassadors. This orientation will be off site at the Timber Lane Community Center, 1904 Naplechase Crest Drive in Spring. Participants must be 16 or older or 12-15 if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Limited space is available, and registration is required. For more information and to register, visit apps.hcp4.net.

Discovering Climate History in Coral Skeletons

On Feb. 16, 2022, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary will present the third of its 2022 Seaside Chats virtually. Louisiana State University professor Kristine DeLong will discuss scientists can chronicle how the ocean and the coral reef have changed over time by studying the chemistry of the layers of coral skeletons. For more information on the series of talks and to register, visit flowergarden.noaa.gov.

Keep Texas Beautiful Opens Governor’s Achievement Awards Application

For more than 30 years, Keep Texas Beautiful, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation has awarded the prestigious Governor’s Community Achievement Awards to Texas communities for their outstanding overall efforts to keep their communities beautiful. This year, 10 winning communities will share $2 million in landscaping awards from the Texas Department of Transportation, with the amount based on population size. The funds are used for landscaping projects along local rights-of-way. There is a $25 application fee. The deadline to apply is Feb. 17, 2022. For more information and to apply, visit ktb.org.

USACE Galveston District Flood Risk Management and Coastal Resiliency Efforts 

On Feb. 17, 2022, from noon-1 p.m., the Texas Association of Environmental Professionals will hold a virtual luncheon featuring a presentation by Lisa Mairs, project manager of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District, on the District’s flood risk management and coastal resiliency efforts. For more information and to register, visit taep.memberclicks.net.

In Too Deep: Class and Mothering in a Flooded Community

On Feb. 17, 2022, beginning at 12:15 p.m., the Kinder Institute for Urban Research will present an Urban Reads discussion with Rachel Kimbro, dean of the School of Social Sciences and sociology professor at Rice University, who will discuss her book In Too Deep: Class and Mothering in a Flooded Community. The book examines what happens when climate change threatens the carefully curated family life of upper-middle-class mothers in the Houston neighborhood of Bayou Oaks. For more information and to register, visit kinder.rice.edu.

Bolivar Frenchtown Road and Surfside Jetty County Park Cleanups

On Feb. 18, 2022, from 9 a.m.-noon, SPLASh and Houston Audubon will co-host a volunteer cleanup at Bolivar’s Frechtown Road. Parking is available along the side of the road, and though it is a quiet road, participants will wear orange reflective vests to ensure they are visible and safe while working alongside the road. All volunteers are required to sign waivers. For more information and to register, visit this Google document.

On Feb. 19, 2022, from 9 a.m.-noon, SPLASh will host a volunteer cleanup at Surfside Jetty County Park. For more information and to register, visit this Google document.

Great Backyard Bird Count

From Feb. 18-21, Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada will co-host the Great Backyard Bird Count. Bird watchers from around the world take part in this annual event. Participants join thousands of volunteers of all levels of birding experience to count birds in their own backyards, local parks, a nearby Bayou Greenway, or wildlife refuges. You can also add a checklist from your own back yard or favorite local birding spot. Checklists submitted by all “citizen scientists” help scientists and researchers learn more about how different bird species are doing, how their populations and ranges are changing, and how to protect them. On Feb. 16, the Cornell Lab will hold a webinar in which experts will go over bird identification, the mystery of bird songs, and how to practice counting birds no matter how large the flock or busy the feeder. This webinar is designed for birders of all ages and experience. Learn more about the Great Backyard Bird County and register for the webinar at birdcount.org. Check out a list of Houston-area bird surveys at houstonaudubon.org.

Abandoned Crab Trap Removal

From Feb. 18– 27, 2022, Texas waters are closed to crab trapping. During this entire closure period, boat owners can take their boats out on Galveston Bay to remove lost and derelict crab traps. Volunteers can drop traps off at one of several established trap drop sites around Galveston Bay. On February 19, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., the Galveston Bay Foundation will host host two crab trap removal events in Anahuac and Bolivar. They are recruiting volunteers with boats to assist with locating and removing traps from Trinity Bay and East Bay. People without boats can still assist. For more information and to register, visit galvbay.org.

Bird Banding at GCBO

On Feb. 19, 2022, from 8 a.m.-noon, the Gulf Coast Birding Observatory will host a free bird-banding event at its headquarters in Lake Jackson. Come see birds in the hand and learn about the science of bird banding. The earlier you arrive the more birds you’ll see. For more information, see the Facebook event.

CONTESTS

Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest

The Texas General Land Office’s 26th Annual Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest is accepting entries. All public, private, and home-schooled students in kindergarten-sixth grade are invited to submit artwork depicting why the Texas coast is important or special to the student. Prizes include inclusion in a 2023 calendar and event tickets to Texas destinations, and a grand prize of airline tickets and a cruise. The teacher of the student with the winning artwork will also receive recognition and prizes. The deadline to enter is March 2, 2022. Find full information at texasadoptabeach.org.

Take Care of Texas Art Contest

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is hosting the Take Care of Texas Art Contest for kindergarten-fifth grade students to depict positive ways to help keep the air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste. Students submit their artwork of how they, along with their friends and family, help keep the air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste. The students that submit the best art can win a tablet or laptop computer. The deadline to enter is March 4, 2022. Find full information at takecareoftexas.org.

‘Ridge to Reef’ Student Art Contest

The Science Without Borders® Challenge is an international contest that engages students and teachers in ocean conservation through art. This annual competition inspires students to be creative while promoting public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources, contributing to the overarching goals of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. The Challenge is open to primary and secondary school students 11-19 years old, with scholarships of up to $500 awarded to the winning entries. The theme for this year’s 10th annual Science without Borders® Challenge is “Ridge to Reef.” All entries must be received by March 7, 2022, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET). Find full information at livingoceansfoundation.org.

Junior Duck Stamp Contest

The Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest is the culmination of the Junior Duck Stamp educational program, opens to students Grades K-12. After studying waterfowl anatomy and habitat, students may express their newfound knowledge by drawing, painting or sketching a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species. Original works done in the following styles will be accepted: hyper-realism, impressions, cartoon, caricatures, comics, pop whimsical, fantasy, cubism, folk, ethnic and tribal. Only 2-dimensional entries will be accepted. The Texas Contest entry deadline is March 15, 2022. Entries should be sent to Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge. 601 FM 1011 (PO Box 10015) Liberty, TX 77575. If you have any questions/concerns, contact Felice Yarbough at felice_yarbough@fws.gov. (Image: Selina Yuan)

Environmental Justice Video Challenge for Students

EPA and partners have launched the Environmental Justice (EJ) Video Challenge for Students to enhance communities’ capacity to address environmental and public health inequities. The goals of the challenge are to 1) inspire students at accredited colleges and universities in the United States and its territories to work directly with communities in the identification and characterization of EJ challenges using data and publicly available tools, and 2) help communities (including residents and other stakeholders) address EJ challenges and/or vulnerabilities to environmental and public health hazards using data and publicly available tools. Submissions are due April 1, 2022. Learn more about the challenge and how to participate at epa.gov.

Ocean Awareness Contest

The 11th annual Ocean Awareness Contest is a platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication, explore their relationship to a changing world, and become advocates for positive change. Students ages 11-18 from around the world are invited to participate. The 2022 Ocean Awareness Contest—THE FUNNY THING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE—challenges students to learn about climate change and its impact on the ocean, and to explore new ways to communicate the urgency of the climate crisis.The deadline for submissions is June 13, 2022. For more information, visit bowseat.org. (Image: Student artist Luyi Song)

Reminders About Ongoing Opportunities

  • Climate Solutions 101. On Tuesdays through Feb. 15, 2022, the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston presents a webinar discussion on solutions to climate change. This course, presented in video units and in-depth conversations, combines Project Drawdown’s trusted resources with the expertise of several inspiring voices from around the world. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.
  • Faithful Resilience. On Thursdays through Feb. 17, 2022, the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston presents a six-part online study on climate resilience for faith communities. The series will explore ways in which the faith community can become a force for climate resilience for the community. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.
  • Spring Branch Virtual Bike Ride. Through Feb. 22, 2022, post a social media photo of your trip using the hashtag #ParksByYou, and tag Houston Parks Board when you cycle the trail to receive a Houston Parks Board swag bag, mailed directly to you. To read more about the Spring Branch Trail projects, visit houstonparksboard.org.
  • Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring for Communities grants. EPA has announced the availability of $20 million in competitive grants to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities from pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic. The application period will be open until Feb. 25, 2022, 11:59 PM EST and EPA expects to award the grants in summer 2022. To learn more, visit epa.gov.
  • Your Body Your Air. The Houston Public Library invites you to learn about types and sources of air pollution in Houston and the effect they have on our bodies in The Health Museum’s new exhibit Your Body Your Air. Created in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund, Your Body Your Air can be seen at various Houston Public Library locations through February 2022. Learn more at houstonlibrary.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.

  • Jim Willis wanted more quail on his land, but he learned that restoring native grasses was key to wildlife populations, water, and soil health. Today the Grassland Restoration Incentive Program helps landowners improve grassland habitat
  • There is a national movement afoot to increase the number of people who go out hunting and fishing every year. It’s important to keep people connected to nature, but license purchases are also critical to funding conservation projects across the country
  • The once-maligned common carp has emerged as a sought-after sport fish, and anglers are coming to Texas from around the world just to catch them. Tag along as we hit some Texas carp hotspots, Lady Bird Lake in Austin, and Lake Fork near Dallas, and meet some folks who pursue these internationally popular fish

Additional Upcoming Events

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