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May 14, 2012

Community Notes 05-14-2012

  1. The 2012 United Way Board Fair. The 2012 United Way Board Fair seeks to connect area nonprofits with a broad spectrum of interested candidates looking for ways to connect with nonprofit organizations in a meaningful way. The fair will take place on May 24th from 5-6:30pm at United Way (50 Waugh Drive). For an organization to participate, an application must be filled out and submitted by May 11th. Space is limited. For more, visit http://www.unitedwayhouston.org/.
  2. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Final Management Plan. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has released its 2012 Final Management Plan. A sanctuary management plan is a site-specific planning and management document that describes the goals, objectives, policies, management strategies, and activities for a sanctuary. This plan outlines the program activities for FGBNMS over the next five years and beyond, along with staffing and budget needs, and performance measures. More at http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/.
  3. USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program. The Farmers Market Promotion Program offers grants to help improve and expand domestic farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agri-tourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Among other benefits, locally sourced food reduces emissions associated with transport. Those eligible to apply for grants include local and tribal governments, agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer associations, non-profit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, and regional farmers’ market authorities. More at http://www.ams.usda.gov/.
  4. 2012 Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award. The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award is given annually to an outstanding middle or high school teacher who integrates environmental education across the curriculum and engages students in interdisciplinary solutions to environmental challenges. The award alternates between middle and high school teachers each year, and 2012 award will go to a high school teacher (grades 9-12). The 2012 award winner will receive $5,000, and two merit winners will receive $750 each. The deadline for nominations is June 8th. More at http://neefusa.org/bartlettaward.htm.
  5. Earth Dog Returns to Save the Environment. The Earth Dog Story, first published in 1992, returns as an app in iTunes and an eBook as part of the U.S. Department of Energy environmental outreach program with Weekly Reader. Earth Dog is a superhero who teaches kids about taking care of the environment. Check it out at http://earthdogstory.com/.
  6. New Viewer for NOAA’s Historical Shoreline Surveys. NOS Special Projects has developed, in collaboration with the National Geodetic Survey and NOAA’s Coastal Services Center, a new tool to view NOAA’s collection of historical shoreline surveys. The NOAA Historical Shoreline Survey Viewer provides access to a large number of historical shoreline surveys conducted by NOAA and its predecessor organizations. About 7,800 surveys—the earliest dating back to 1841—are available for viewing in Google Earth. In addition to overlaying a scanned image of the survey in Google Earth, the viewer provides links to download the original scan and metadata, the resulting extracted vector shoreline, and a descriptive report compiled by the survey team. When compared to imagery available through Google Earth, the surveys provide invaluable historical information about how the shoreline has evolved through both natural and man-made changes over the last 170 years. More at http://specialprojects.nos.noaa.gov/tools/shorelinesurvey.html.
  7. New Publication Outlines How to Incorporate Sea Level Change at the Local Level. Local communities want to incorporate sea-level rise projections into their planning efforts, but there is no “one size fits all” approach. A new NOAA publication, Incorporating Sea Level Change Scenarios at the Local Level, provides an eight-step approach that shows community planners how to understand and plan for sea level change. The publication can be downloaded or obtained in hard copy. Learn more at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/.
  8. EPA Awards Over $40,000 to Help Students Understand Marine Mammal Rehabilitation. Promoting environmental education through interactive marine mammal experiences is the goal of the “Dolphin Exploration and Vessel Adventure Program” by the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network. This initiative will receive $43,407 to enhance the educational experience for 1,000 students and science teachers in the Greater Houston area. The goals of this project are to increase awareness of marine mammals and issues with the local marine environment. This will include education about current marine mammal protection initiatives while encouraging interest in an environmental career. Partners include Baywatch Dolphin Tours and Texas A&M, Galveston. More information on the EPA’s environmental education grant program is available at http://www.epa.gov/education/grants.html.
  9. Like Houston Bayou Greenways on Facebook. Houston Bayou Greenways is on Facebook! Like the page at http://www.facebook.com/ and leave a comment about your experience paddling on one of Houston’s bayous.
  10. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This week’s broadcast will include:
    • What’s in the Water
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Blue Mountain Peak Ranch
    • Ray Roberts Lake State Park
    • The Flying Photographers
  11. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
    • May 15: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Moderate” levels on the south and southeast side of the Houston area.
    • May 16: Yellow-Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels on the south side of the Houston area.
    • May 17: Orange-Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” on the north side of the Houston area.
    • On May 14, TCEQ issued an Air Pollution Warning – Level Orange for unhealthy levels of ozone in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas. During a Level Orange warning, active children and adults as well as people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exposure.