Houston Environmental News Update December 18, 2012

CEC NOTES

1. CEC seeks Executive Director
2. Newsletter Holiday
3. 82nd Legislature Regular Session–what are YOU following?

COALITION NOTES

1. “Now What” Community Meeting About Houston’s Bayou Greenways
2. Armand Bayou Owl Prowl and Night Hike
3. Houston Sustainability Indicators – Presentation Slides
4. The Best and Worst Transportation Projects In the United States
5. Flying WILD Workshop
6. Save the date: The 13th Annual Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale

COMMUNITY NOTES

1. Reading Towards Sustainability II
2. Holiday Trees: Artistically Upcycled
3. First Day Hikes in Texas State Parks
4. Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership Public Meeting
5. Van Tour – Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
6. Techs & Trainers
7. Houston Re-Market
8. Whooper Help
9. 2013 Cohort of Kinship Conservation Fellows
10. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
11. Air Quality Forecast

NEWS HEADLINES

1. Real vs Artificial Christmas Trees: An Easier Choice Than You Think
   (Elizabeth Trovall – StateImpact, 12/13/2012)
2. Rice Researchers Develop Plant-Based Battery (Laurie Johnson – KUHF
   News, 12/03/2012)
3. Harnessing Huntsville’s potential: Community identifies areas for
   improvement (Tori Brock – The Huntsville Item, 12/02/2012)

GREEN JOBS

1. CEC seeks Executive Director
2. NEW! Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership seeks Watershed Coordinator
3. NEW! Armand Bayou Nature Center seeks Restoration Technician
4. NEW! The Mercer Society seeks Retail Staff
5. Urban Harvest seeks Executive Director
6. The Woods Project seeks Club Program Directors
7. Hermann Park Conservancy seeks Marketing Manager
8. The Mercer Society seeks Executive Director
9. Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) seeks Administrative Assistant
10. Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) seeks Graduate Student Intern
11. Texas Coastal Watershed Program seeks Wetland Program Assistant
12. Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens seeks Conservation Botany Intern

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS

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CEC NOTES

1. CEC seeks Executive Director. The Citizens
   Environmental Coalition is seeking an Executive Director with a passion
   for environmental issues and strong community involvement and
   fundraising talents. CEC works with organizations serving all facets of
   the environmental community with the mission of fostering dialogue,
   education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston/Gulf
   Coast region. We are seeking a person with strong independent work
   habits and the ability to connect with the breadth of the environmental
   community. For more information visit cechouston.org
   or contact our interim ED, Shawn McFarland, at shawn@cechouston.org.
   Please send a cover letter and resume to helen.oconnor@live.com,
   Board President, by January 1, 2013.
2. Newsletter Holiday. The Houston Environmental News
   Update will not be published on Tuesday, December 25, 2012, or on New
   Year’s Day. We will continue to update the calendar and website, and we
   will send an abbreviated newsletter towards the end of December.
3. 82nd Legislature Regular Session–what are YOU following? Session
   begins at noon on Tuesday, January 8, 2012, and we’d like to share
   information during the session about what bills our member groups and
   readers are tracking. Let us know what legislation will be important to
   you, and we will highlight it in our first newsletter of 2013, on
   January 8. We’ll follow the status of the bills and provide information
   in our newsletter. If you provide insight into progress of any of the
   bills, we’ll share that, too.So far, 278 bills have been filed by the
   House and 127 bills have been filed by the Senate. Bills filed so far
   touch on issues including climate adaptation planning, eminent domain
   for recreation, community gardens, solid waste management,
   transportations, the sporting goods sales tax, emmissions inspections,
   muncicpal land development, TCEQ rules, water efficiency and water
   rates, and salvage yards, to name a few. Learn more at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/General.aspx.

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COALITION NOTES

1. “Now What” Community Meeting About Houston’s Bayou Greenways.
   ParksByYou and the Houston Parks Board will host a short, one-hour
   community meeting entitled: “Now What” at the United Way at 50 Waugh
   Drive Houston, TX 77007 on December 20, 2012, from 11am until noon. A
   short PowerPoint presentation will show where construction will begin on
   Houston’s Bayou Greenways during the first few months of 2013.
   ParksByYou still needs your help in fundraising and friendraising, so
   bring a friend and hear about the next steps in the most transformative
   project in Houston, and one of the largest trail projects in the nation.
   RSVP here: jen@houstonparksboard.org and check out www.houstonbayougreenways.org
   for more information on the trails and parks.
2. Armand Bayou Owl Prowl and Night Hike. Visit Armand
   Bayou Nature Center on December 22nd, 5-7pm, for a beautiful walk
   through the woods, looking for owls and listening to the fascinating
   sounds of the night. Don’t forget your walking shoes / boots and
   flashlight! Advance reservations are required: Call 281 474-2551, ext
   10. This event takes place every 4th Saturday of the month. More at http://www.abnc.org/thecalendar.html.
3. Houston Sustainability Indicators – Presentation Slides.
   The presentation slides for the Houston Sustainability Indicators
   Project Report (November 28th) have been posted. Visit https://shellcenter.rice.edu/
   to view them. The final report will be posted to the site on December
   21st.
4. The Best and Worst Transportation Projects In the United
   States. The Sierra Club has put together a Green
   Transportation Report, naming the 50 best and worst transportation
   projects in the United States. This report shows that Americans can and
   should expect the dollars we spend on transportation to contribute to
   solving environmental and economic problems. Smart transportation
   investments are already providing Americans with transportation options
   that reduce our dependence on oil, improve air and water quality and
   public health, and keep more money in local economies. However that
   doesn’t always happen. Two projects in the Houston area made the list.
   The Houston Light Rail, one of the most-traveled light rail systems in
   the United States per route mile, was named one of the best projects.
   However, the Grand Parkway, the third beltway around Houston, was named
   one of the worst as it encourages additional sprawl. Read the full
   report at http://content.sierraclub.org/.
5. Flying WILD Workshop. Saturday, January 5, 2012. This
   companion to Project WILD highlights bird education and conservation
   though hands-on lessons, activities, and stewardship projects. The
   workshop is designed for formal and non-formal educators and meets TEEAC
   & CEU requirements. The cost is $15 for materials. Reservations are
   required: 281-446-8588 or jjp@hcp4.net.
   Visit http://www.hcp4.net/jones/pdf/calendars/042713WinterSpringJJP.pdf
   for more info.
6. Save the date: The 13th Annual Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale.
   Mark your calendar for this once a year fruit-tree-fest. The 13th Annual
   Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale will be held on Saturday, January 19,
   2013, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until sold out, at Houston Community
   College, 5601 West Loop South, just south of Hwy 59. This sale brings
   together far more types and varieties of fruit trees than can be found
   anywhere else in the greater Houston area. Best fruit trees are
   available only during the winter at this sale. For more information,
   visit http://www.urbanharvest.org/events/fruittreesales.html.

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COMMUNITY NOTES

1. Reading Towards Sustainability II. An educational
   seminar, Reading Towards Sustainability II, will take place at the Green
   Building Resource Center (1002 Washington Ave) on December 20, 2012,
   from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. GBRC Program Director Steve Stelzer will
   present an update of converging ideas and contrasts from a cross section
   of books addressing sustainability. The purpose is to give the audience
   an idea of the community effect of authors concerned about the state of
   the human race. Each attendee will receive a free, updated list of
   books. Please RSVP to Steve Stelzer at steve.stelzer@houstontx.gov or
   832.394.9050. http://www.greenhoustontx.gov/gbrceducation.pdf
2. Holiday Trees: Artistically Upcycled. Holiday trees
   decorated by local artists using recycled items will be on display
   during business hours until December 28, 2012, at the City of Houston’s
   offices at 611. Free and open to the public. More at http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org/.
3. First Day Hikes in Texas State Parks. Start a
   tradition on New Year’s Day 2013 by starting the year off on the right
   foot, the left foot, any foot — take a First Day Hike in a state park
   near you! Most all hikes are guided by state park staff and volunteers
   and feature an interpretive message about native plants, animals or park
   history. The walks average one to two miles in length, but many also
   offer shorter or longer trek options as well. There’s something for
   everyone! In the Houston area, there will be hikes at Brazos Bend State
   Park (meet at the park’s Nature Center at 10:00 am) and Sheldon Lake
   State Park (meet at the Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental
   Learning Center at 11:00 am). Find a hike here: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/hiking.
4. Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership Public Meeting.
   Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership will be holding a public meeting on
   January 3, 2013, 5:30-7:30pm, at the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center (1724
   Market Street). The Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership is a group of
   local stakeholders from the communities surrounding Cedar Bayou whose
   purpose is to seek voluntary ways to restore and protect our local
   waterway. The meeting will cover the project status and preliminary data
   from the water quality monitoring effort underway. Come to have your
   ideas and concerns heard! More at http://www.cedarbayouwatershed.com/.
5. Van Tour – Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge.
   Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest
   remnants of coastal prairie habitat remaining in southeast Texas. It is
   home to one of the last populations of the critically endangered
   Attwater’s prairie-chicken, a ground-dwelling grouse of the coastal
   prairie ecosystem. The first Saturday of each month, a guided van tour
   of the refuge will take visitors on a two-hour trip through the prairie.
   Join refuge volunteers and staff to learn about native coastal prairie,
   the history of the refuge, the biology of the Attwater’s
   prairie-chicken, and what’s being done to save it from extinction. The
   next tour is on January 5, 2013, 8-10am. Space is limited and
   reservations are required. Contact the refuge staff to reserve your spot
   on this interesting tour at (979) 234-3012, ext. 221 or 223. Learn more
   http://cechouston.org/.
6. Techs & Trainers. Recycle your computer AND help
   to provide meaningful employment for people with mental illness or
   disabilities. Using computers donated by individuals and local
   businesses, the Techs & Trainers recycling program makes good use of
   computer parts that were destined for the landfill, preventing e-waste
   before it starts. They repair, recycle, and refurbish computers and
   provide technological skills and computers to the unemployed and people
   with disabilities. Techs & Trainers is located at 5933 Bellaire
   Blvd., #111. Visit http://www.techsandtrainers.org/
   to learn more.
7. Houston Re-Market. The Houston Re-Market is an
   innovative market whose goal is to foster responsible consumerism. The
   market features approximately 10+ vendors who use recycled and reused
   materials and other sustainable practices in their craft. In addition
   there are garage sales, a free swap (bring gently used, unwanted items
   and taking something new home), recycling drop off (plastics 1-5 &
   7, aluminum, tin, glass, paper, and cardboard), live music and
   entertainment, and food. Shop, swap, recycle, and chill every 4th
   Saturday! The next Re-Market is on December 22nd at 4302 Harrisburg.
   More at http://www.houstonremarket.com/home.html.
8. Whooper Help. Citizens can help the whoopers by
   reporting sightings and by preventing disturbance of cranes when they
   remain overnight at roosting and feeding locations. Sightings can be
   reported to whoopingcranes@tpwd.state.tx.us or 512-389-TXWW (8999).
   Observers are asked to note whether the cranes have colored leg bands.
   Volunteers interested in attending training sessions to become “Whooper
   Watchers” and helping to collect more detailed data should contact TPWD
   at whoopingcranes@tpwd.state.tx.us or 512-389-TXWW (8999). More info at
   www.tpwd.state.tx.us/whoopingcranes.
9. 2013 Cohort of Kinship Conservation Fellows. The
   Kinship Foundation has opened applications for its 2013 cohort of
   Kinship Conservation Fellows. The goal of the annual program is to
   develop a community of leaders dedicated to collaborative approaches to
   environmental issues, with an emphasis on market-based principles. The
   month-long program supports mid-career practitioners seeking to
   effectively implement market-based mechanisms for conservation by honing
   their skills in leadership, communication, economics, and business and
   finance. The deadline for proposals is January 26th. More at http://foundationcenter.org/.
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:
    • Lion Country
    • Atlanta State Park
    • Hooked on the Coast
11. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html.
    Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • December 18: Green–Good.
      Moderate afternoon winds and low incoming background levels should
      help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • December 19: Green–Good.
      Moderate to strong winds low incoming background levels should help
      to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • December 20: Green–Good.
      Moderate winds, cold temperatures, and low incoming background
      levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range
      statewide.

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ECONOTES Featured News
Articles–For dozens of additional headlines, visit the CEC
website. (You can let us know about articles, too. E-mail news@cechouston.org).

1. Galveston Coastline To Go Virtual Thanks To New Partnership
   (Jack Williams and Laurie Johnson – KUHF News, 12/5/2012) Because
   Galveston Island is actually a barrier reef, it shifts over time. That
   shifting leads to both erosion and beach growth. That creates a big
   challenge when it comes to knowing how beaches will react to man-made
   changes along the coastline. The Galveston Park Board of Trustees is now
   partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create a virtual
   model of the coastline and a strategy that will help predict how the
   beaches will move in the future. http://app1.kuhf.org/
2. Water, jobs, infrastructure will be issues for legislators in
   coming session (Rusty Graham – Your Memorial News,
   11/30/2012) State Representatives, Bill Callegari (R-132) and Jim Murphy
   (R-133), talked about what area residents might expect from the 83rd
   Legislature, from water and government waste to manufacturing and tax
   reform. Water will likely be the state’s critical issue for years to
   come, as more reservoirs but federal regulations and requirements make
   them hard to build. Other ways of increasing a usable water supply
   include increasing the reuse of wastewater, and desalination of both
   seawater and brackish water. http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/
3. Funding Awarded Towards Houston’s First Public Hydrogen
   Fueling Station (Guidry News, 12/5/2012) Vision Industries
   Corporation (OTCBB: VIIC), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Air
   Products and project partners were recently awarded $500,000 from the
   Texas Emission Reduction Program (TERP) to partially fund the building
   of the first public hydrogen fueling station in the state. The station,
   which is proposed to be fed from an existing hydrogen pipeline, will
   fuel port trucks and be publicly available for personal vehicles at the
   Port of Houston. http://www.guidrynews.com/

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GREEN JOBS Tell them you
heard about it from us! Job listings can be found at CEC’s
Green Jobs page.

1. CEC seeks Executive Director. The Citizens
   Environmental Coalition is seeking an Executive Director with a passion
   for environmental issues and strong community involvement and
   fundraising talents. CEC works with organizations serving all facets of
   the environmental community with the mission of fostering dialogue,
   education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston/Gulf
   Coast region. We are seeking a person with strong independent work
   habits and the ability to connect with the breadth of the environmental
   community. For more information visit cechouston.org
   or contact our interim ED, Shawn McFarland, at shawn@cechouston.org.
   Please send a cover letter and resume to helen.oconnor@live.com,
   Board President, by January 1, 2013.
2. NEW! Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership seeks Watershed
   Coordinator. The mission of the Armand Bayou Watershed
   Partnership is to “improve the quality of life in our communities by
   protecting, enhancing, and restoring the ecological integrity and
   natural benefits of the Armand Bayou watershed.” The Watershed
   Coordinator is responsible for the overall administration and management
   of the Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership, including
   fundraising/grantwriting and business operations. Areas of
   responsibility include planning and evaluation, policy and program
   development and administration, personnel and fiscal management, and
   public relations. This is a full-time position, hired by and directly
   accountable to the Armand Bayou Watershed Council, communicating
   regularly with its elected Council chair. The Watershed Coordinator
   implements policies approved by the Council, manages the organization’s
   programs and operations (including implementation of its Strategic
   Plan), and represents the organization in the community.  Cover
   letter, resume, and written answers to the questions below should be
   submitted via e-mail to: linda.shead@sheadconservation.com. The
   questions are: 1. Based on the “Ability to create and foster teams to
   solve watershed problems,” how have you used this skill in the past, and
   what would you do differently in the future? 2. Tell about past
   experience with outside consultants and contractors.
3. NEW! Armand Bayou Nature Center seeks Restoration Technician.
   Armand Bayou Nature Center is seeking a Restoration Technician to assist
   the Stewardship Department with implementation of the ABNC Natural
   Resource Management Plan. Duties include: habitat restoration including
   exotic vegetation control through herbicide application, prescribed
   fire, tractor mowing, native plant propagation, and planting (this
   includes maintenance of equipment); wetland restoration including tidal
   marsh planting and management of native plant nursery ponds; assist
   volunteer work groups in support of the above activities: Prairie Friday
   and Stewardship Saturday. The focus of this position is ecological
   restoration as described in the ABNC Natural Resource Management Plan.
   Technicians will gain experience in plant identification plant
   propagation, and wetland restoration. Technicians will also assist with
   supervision of volunteer work crews. Please visit our website at www.abnc.org
   for more information about the preserve and Management Plan.
   Applications are being accepted until January 4, 2013. Please send
   resume and letter of interest to: george@abnc.org. No phone calls
   please. Click here for a full
   job description.
4. NEW! The Mercer Society seeks Retail Staff. The
   Mercer Society has an opening for a Retail Staff position in The Gift
   Shoppe on weekends. Candidates will have responsibility for handling all
   sales, greeting visitors, working with volunteers, opening and closing
   as well as general care duties and watering of the plants. The Gift
   Shoppe is a small, cheerful retail store managed by The Mercer Society.
   The sales help support Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. The shop
   sells garden art, tools, books, and a variety of gifts as well as
   plants. The work schedule is primarily every other weekend although all
   staff work special events. The Gift Shoppe weekend hours are 10 to 3
   Saturdays and 11 to 4 Sundays. Retail experience is desirable but not
   mandatory. If you are interested in, applying for this part-time paid
   position please send a resume with the subject “Gift Shoppe” to
   msociety@hcp4.net or mail to The Mercer Society, 22306 Aldine Westfield
   Rd, Humble, TX 77338.
5. Urban Harvest seeks Executive Director. Urban
   Harvest is searching for an outstanding individual with strong
   leadership, management, and fundraising skills to become its next
   Executive Director. The Executive Director of Urban Harvest will work
   with the Board, staff, administration, and partners to promote the
   organization’s mission and accomplishments, position the organization to
   grow and thrive, and set priorities for achieving optimal community
   impact. He or she will provide strong leadership for the organization,
   including management of programs, staff, operating budget, strategic
   plan, donor and community relations, marketing, and development efforts.
   The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of business experience,
   preferably in the nonprofit field with time as an executive director or
   in senior management; management experience leading an organization,
   with measurable results in hiring, mentoring, developing, and retaining
   staff; proven experience with financial management, fund accounting, and
   budgeting; demonstrated track record of generating revenue through major
   donors, corporations, and foundations for an organization, as a
   volunteer, consultant, or professional; proven success engaging,
   building, and supporting a nonprofit governing board at the national,
   regional, or local level; and a college degree (required). Applications
   and nominations will be accepted until Friday, January 18, 2013. Please
   email applications to Pat Lawson at plawson@sterlingandassociates.com.
6. The Woods Project seeks Club Program Directors. The
   Woods Project is seeking part-time (approximately 6 hrs/wk) Club Program
   Instructors to teach one or more of our weekly afterschool club programs
   for the 2013 spring semester. The right candidate will be an
   outdoorsperson with experience working with high school youth,
   preferably some experience with at-risk youth. Some additional
   requirements are flexible weekly schedule, access to personal
   transportation, must be comfortable with camping/backpacking gear, enjoy
   being in a mentor/leadership role. Duties will include travelling to
   schools to teach an hour club, working with existing curriculum as well
   as developing new research-based lessons. Instructors must commit to the
   remainder of the 2012-2013 school year, attend one spring semester
   camping trip, and are highly encouraged to participate in the 2013
   summer trip to places in Northern California or Montana. Ability to work
   independently and with confidence is a requirement of the job, as is the
   ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. For
   more information about The Woods Project and the Club Program Instructor
   position, please visit www.thewoodsproject.org.
   Interested candidates should contact Brittany White, Director of
   Programs, at brittany@thewoodsproject.org.
7. Hermann Park Conservancy seeks Marketing Manager.
   Hermann Park Conservancy is currently seeking a full-time marketing
   manager. The marketing manager will have primary responsibility for all
   external communications, marketing initiatives, the membership program,
   PR, and media and donor relations. The marketing manager will work
   closely with the executive director and staff, particularly in the
   development department. Hermann Park will reach its 100th birthday in
   2014. In preparation for this milestone, the marketing manager will
   oversee a multifaceted marketing program, to include media and
   sponsorship initiatives, expansion of the membership program, the use of
   new web technologies, and promotion of happenings among various
   constituencies, including community partners, corporate sponsors,
   donors, members, and public officials. To apply, please email a cover
   letter and resume to info@hermannpark.org. Click here
   for more information.
8. The Mercer Society seeks Executive Director. The
   Executive Director (ED) of The Mercer Society (TMS), a 501(c)(3)
   nonprofit organization, is responsible for the operation and
   administration of the organization. The main mission of TMS is to raise
   funds for Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. The ED’s main duties
   include ensuring that TMS is run in an efficient manner that meets the
   fiscal goals and overall objectives of the Board of Directors;
   processing all payments through fundraisers, events, and daily
   operations including the gift shop; updating TMS website and creating
   e-newsletters; facilitating fund-raising both independently and with
   others; managing the TMS staff in accordance with the TMS Employee
   Handbook; insuring compliance with all state and federal reporting
   obligations; being responsible for insuring TMS Bylaws, the Contract
   with Harris County and all policies and procedures are adhered to;
   serving as a spokesperson for TMS; and serving as liaison to the staff
   of Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens (MABG). To apply, send cover
   letter, resume and salary requirements to: The Mercer Society/Alan
   Raymond/msociety@hcp4.net.
9. Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) seeks Administrative Assistant.
   The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF), located in Webster, Texas, seeks a
   full-time Administrative and Database Assistant. The primary duties of
   this position include providing administrative assistance to GBF’s
   President; providing assistance to the development team, as needed, in
   the areas of membership, marketing, and general development; entering
   data into GBF’s database; and providing general administrative duties
   including greeting visitors to the GBF office, answering phone calls and
   transferring accordingly, ordering office supplies, and operating basic
   office equipment. Candidates should possess an associate’s degree or
   bachelor’s degree or be currently enrolled in a college or university
   undergraduate or graduate program; have previous experience with data
   entry and/or database management; be proficient in use of Microsoft
   Office software including Word, Excel, and Outlook and have proficient
   typing skills; and possess excellent communication skills, both verbal
   and written. This is a full-time position with benefits. For a full job
   description, please see http://galvbay.org/aboutus_jobs.html.
   To apply, email resume to csmith@galvbay.org by Friday, January 11,
   2013.
10. Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) seeks Graduate Student
    Intern. This fall the Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP)
    will be hiring a graduate student intern. TCWP is a program of Texas
    A&M University that works on projects concerning wetland restoration
    and wetland education. The program is located in Houston, TX. Graduate
    students in wetland ecology, wetland restoration and wetland education
    are encouraged to apply. Interns will assist with several ongoing
    projects, focusing on the development of an Operations and Maintenance
    plan for restored wetland habitat at Sheldon Lake State Park. This task
    is to be completed in cooperation with Texas Park and Wildlife staff.
    This primary task will involve technical writing, research, numerical
    analysis, and some field work, and will require solid organization and
    writing skills. Internship will begin in early January and will conclude
    by the end of summer term 2013. Compensation is hourly, and the position
    is 20 hours per week. Employment will be at our office in Houston.
    Applicants should submit a resume, a 1-page cover letter, and a 2-page
    (max) writing sample. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate studies
    program at the time of hire. Application packets or questions about the
    positions can be sent to m-sipocz@tamu.edu, subject line: tcwp
    internship. Visit agrilife.urbannature.org; wetlandteam.ning.com
11. Texas Coastal Watershed Program seeks Wetland Program
    Assistant. The Texas Coastal Watershed Program (Texas
    AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University) is seeking
    applications for a Wetland Program Assistant to work directly on
    existing restoration projects at Sheldon Lake State Park.
    Responsibilities include working collaboratively with the Wetland
    Restoration Team during Team workdays, completing other potential
    wetland restoration sites, and conducting wetland restoration monitoring
    (e.g. weekly water level monitoring and quarterly vegetation and
    photopoint collection). The Wetland Program Assistant must be a
    self-starter with a positive attitude and be able to work comfortably
    with volunteers and other staff. The ability to speak in public is a
    must, as well as, good writing and editing skills. A Bachelors of
    Science in Ecology or natural resource science is preferred, as well as
    knowledge and experience working in wetland education or restoration.
    Extensive experience may substitute for a degree. For more information
    contact Marissa Sipocz at: m-sipocz@tamu.edu. Send letter of interest
    and resume by e-mail only.
12. Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens seeks Conservation Botany
    Intern. Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens is advertising a
    full time (possible part time) paid internship through the Student
    Conservation Association (SCA). This internship will focus on plant
    conservation efforts at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens and
    restoring wild populations of endangered native plants in the Houston
    metro area. The intern will assist with formulating a restoration and
    management plan for a rare native plant preserve in the Houston metro
    area. The intern will assess the viability of Mercer’s frozen seed bank
    for three of the major rare prairie plant species in Houston metro area
    as well as assist collections of other rare species for the Center for
    Plant Conservation National Collection of Endangered Plants. Interested
    persons should contact the SCA directly at http://mysca.force.com/
    and search for the position: 00192580. More about the SCA at http://www.thesca.org/.

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UPCOMING EVENTS If you
attend one of these events, please let them know you heard about it here!
Visit the new calendar at cechouston.org.

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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION This weekly update is brought to you by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, established as a 501(c)3 in 1971. CEC is a coaltion of over 100 environmental organizations dedicated to fostering dialogue, education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston / Gulf Coast region. Visit the CEC on line at cechouston.org.

Do you know of something great going on? News? Events? Accomplishments?
Jobs? Let us know! Send submittals to news@cechouston.org.

If possible, send information by Friday for inclusion the following Tuesday.
We especially like short paragraphs, catchy titles, third person, and links
to more information, but we will work with whatever you send us. Calendar
items can be submitted up to two years in advance. We are always looking for
volunteers to help keep our calendar up to date.

CEC and other leading environmental organizations participate in payroll
contribution plans at many Texas workplaces through Earth Share of Texas.
Find out how you can support CEC at 800-GREENTX or www.earthshare-texas.org.

CEC agencies receive donations when you choose Green Bank. Visit www.greenbank.com
for more information about the program.

Shawn McFarland, Interim Executive Director
Rachel Powers, Volunteer Editor-in-Chief
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
Rachel Tardiff, Calendar Editor
(713) 524-4232
news@cechouston.org

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