ECONOTES 2011-02-23: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region

Featured

1. Beautifying Buffalo Bayou (Mike Morris – Houston Chronicle, 02/14/2011)
   The Buffalo Bayou Partnership has a plan to upgrade Buffalo Bayou between Shepherd and Sabine to reduce the risk of flooding and to attract more visitors. The project is privately funded and will transform the area.  Construction is expected to start in mid-2012 and take three years.
   http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7425998.html
2. Coast Guard Baffled by Spill (Bill Stamps – KUHF News, 02/22/2011)
   A mile long oil slick has been found along the coast of Galveston Bay. There is not enough oil to cause problems for wildlife, and crews are currently working to clean it up. The oil is mostly found on the rocks, and not in the water. No majors spills have been reported recently, so the cause of the spill is unknown.
   http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1298412502
3. Grand Parkway, Seg E: Traffic Benefits Vs Environmental Costs (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News, 02/22/2011)
   Planners are working on a possible third ring road that would circle around Greater Houston. The road would run through a region that is expected to experience a lot of growth over the next few years. Segment E of the proposed road would run through an area of wetlands with abundant wildlife. The Katy Prairie would suffer environmental damage if the road is constructed.
   http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1298343551

EcoNotes

• 23 February
  • To Expand, or Not to Expand the Flower Garden Banks (Carrie Feibel – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1298433248
  • THE RESCUER: Public invited to wildlife care training (John Lowman – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_f135fffa-3f08-11e0-85a4-001cc4c002e0.html
• 22 February
  • Texans play lead roles in GOP attack on climate regulations in Congress (Texas Climate News)
    http://texasclimatenews.org/wp/?p=1279
  • Grand Parkway, Seg E: Traffic Benefits Vs Environmental Costs (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1298343551
  • Coast Guard Baffled by Spill (Bill Stamps – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1298412502
  • Climate Change Creates Longer Ragweed Season (Deborah Zabarenko – Planet Ark News)
    http://planetark.org/wen/61275
  • Crab catchers being yanked from the sea to spare other marine life (John Tompkins – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_a9b28ed6-3e3c-11e0-b2c0-001cc4c002e0.html
  • Spring brings the annual rain of lawn chemicals (Barbara Kessler – ABC 13)
    http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2011/02/22/spring-brings-the-annual-rain-of-lawn-chemicals/
  • Anahuac: 407 abandoned crab traps removed from Trinity Bay (KHOU News)
    http://www.khou.com/news/neighborhood-news/Anahuac-407-abandoned-crab-traps-removed
• 21 February
  • Tests indicate groundwater contamination (John Tomkins – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_f4908fd6-3d77-11e0-b657-001cc4c002e0.html
  • TPC to vote on gutting walk, bike, and livability projects (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
    http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/tpc-to-vote-on-gutting-walk-bike
• 20 February
• 19 February
  • Scientist Finds Gulf Bottom Still Oily, Dead (Seth Borenstein – Click2Houston)
    http://www.click2houston.com/green-pages/26926437/detail.html
  • Initiative Launched to Help Gulf Coast States With Disaster Preparedness (Philanthropy News Digest)
    http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=327800014
  • Tax proposal would encourage water stewardship (Matthew Tresaugue – My SA News)
    http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Tax-proposal-would-encourage-water-stewardship-1020880.php
• 18 February
  • Tax breaks proposed for farmers who ‘grow’ water (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7435086.html
  • President’s budget targets oil and gas, boosts renewable energy (Kent Hoover – Houston Business Journal)
    http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2011/02/18/presidents-budget-targets-oil-and.html
• 17 February
  • Katy Perry vs Katy Prairie? (Vilas Bhuchar – Houston Tomorrow)
    http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/katy-perry-vs-katy-prairie
  • Freeze Impacts hit Fish, Turtles along Entire Texas Coast (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
    http://archive.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20110217c
  • Council calls for votes on water system (Alan Nieschwietz – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_e1cf7c06-3a50-11e0-a632-001cc4c002e0.html
  • Freeze impacts hit fish, turtles along entire Texas coast (Guidry News)
    http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000032820
• 16 February
  • Sand’s Down: Surfside beach renourishment nears completion (John Lowman – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_73b71dfe-398e-11e0-aab0-001cc4c002e0.html
  • Texas tax break for natural gas production scrutinized amid budget shortfall (Dave Montgomery – Star-Telegram)
    http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/16/2855320/texas-tax-break-for-natural-gas.html
• 15 February
  • West Texas plant offers energy and pollution solutions (Byron Harris – WFAA News)
    http://www.wfaa.com/news/business/Coal-Pollultion-Solution-116271224.html
  • Blackout hearings: Angry in Austin (Tom Fowler – Fuel Fix)
    http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/02/15/blackout-hearings-angry-in-austin/
  • CNU says sustainability funding at risk (Marci Gilbert – Houston Tomorrow)
    http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/congress-for-new-urbanism-says-sustainability
• 14 February
  • Beautifying Buffalo Bayou (Mike Morris – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7425998.html
  • Power plant woes prompt changes (Tom Fowler – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/7427513.html