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October 20, 2013

Houston Environmental News Update October 22, 2013

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Houston Environmental News Update October 22, 2013

CEC NOTES

  1. Environmental Summit Call for Presentations and Sponsors
  2. Office Warming Party and Other CEC Events
  3. Welcome New Subscribers
  4. Workplace Giving Season

COALITION NOTES

  1. Education Seminar: LED Lighting in Houston
  2. CWI: H-GAC Website User Training for Water Quality Apps
  3. L.A.N.D.S. Outreach Teacher Workshop
  4. Public Forum: Master Planning Process for Memorial Park
  5. USGBC Construction & Demolition UnConference
  6. 21st Annual Houston Conservation Luncheon
  7. Effluent Bacterial Loading Workshop
  8. Collaborative Access Program Event: A Local Perspective on Collaborative Projects & Ecosystem Services
  9. Livable Center Sponsors
  10. Native Prairie Plant-a-thon
  11. Run to Support Hermann Park
  12. Coastal Prairie Partnership Grant
  13. Our Great Region 2040

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. ASCE & Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum
  2. More than Honey at MFAH
  3. Westchase Farmers Market
  4. 2013 Edible Garden Tour
  5. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
  6. Oktohbafest
  7. The New Ecology: Managing for Resilience in a Changing World
  8. 2nd Annual West University Recycles Day
  9. 5th Annual Bellaire Recycles Fest
  10. Pollution Prevention and Lean Principles Workshop
  11. Texas Watershed Steward Workshop
  12. Hike & Seek
  13. Gulf Coast Bioneers
  14. 2013 Feral Hog Management Workshop
  15. The Green Cup Challenge
  16. News from TCEQ
  17. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
  18. Air Quality Forecast

NEWS HEADLINES

  1. Water plan threatens sea turtles, group warns (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle, 10/11/2013)
  2. Mayor Parker Wants Houston’s Streets More Accessible To Pedestrians And Cyclists (Gail Delaughter – KUHF News, 10/10/2013)
  3. Why so many Dams In Texas Are in Bad Condition (Mose Buchele – StateImpact, 10/14/2013)
  4. Controversial “restoration.” (David Crossley – HoustonTomorrow, 10/17/2013)

GREEN JOBS

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS

CEC NOTES

October is a busy month for our environmental community. Here at CEC, we are spending some of our time as the grasshopper, playing outside and celebrating. Read on to learn more about ways our member groups are providing opportunities for you to play grasshopper, too. We are also spending time as the ant and preparing for the winter. Specifically, we are busy planning for the Environmental Summit on February 13, 2014. We we invite you to be a part of the planning. Read on for more info.

Environmental Summit Call for Presentations and Sponsors. The CEC wants you to be a part of our environmental summit on February 13, 2014! Right now, we have two opportunities. First, we are soliciting a call for proposals for presentations. We’re looking for presentations that connect two superficially unrelated topics: Galveston Bay and electricity generation, native plants and roadway types… Come up with something creative and send a proposal, not more than one page, to rachel@cechouston.org. Second, we are looking to event sponsors to help make this an even greater event. If you are interested in supporting the CEC and getting your name out in front of one of the best environmental audiences in the region, please get in touch with Rachel to learn about opportunities.

Office Warming Party and Other CEC Events Save the date: On Thursday, November 14, 2013, late afternoon and early evening, please join us at our new digs on Kane Street to celebrate! More details coming soon.

Other CEC events:

  • Wednesday, October 30, 2013. USGBC Construction & Demolition UnConference. (CEC is a sponsor.)
  • Tuesday, November 19, 2013, evening: “I recycled. I voted. What next?” A Collaborative Primer on Civic Engagement for Houston’s Environmental Community.
  • Thursday, February 13, 2014: Visions for a Greener Houston, CEC’s Environmental Summit

Welcome New Subscribers Thank you to Sarah, Tyson, and Amaline for subscribing online, and to Ruthanne, Maruthi, Debbie, Kishere, Kathy, Deanna, Lisa, Whitney, and Robbin who signed up at our booth at Downtown Fest on Thursday. A big shout out to the folks who liked our Facebook page: Natalie, Yvonne, Sharon, Howard, Katherine, Hal, and Celine. We are grateful to have you part of our environmental community.  www.facebook.com/CEChouston

Workplace Giving Season. Fall is the time when many companies give their employees an opportunity to make workplace giving decisions. CEC, and several of our member organizations, participate in EarthShare Texas. The mission of EarthShare Texas is to support the work of its participating organizations to conserve and protect our natural resources through participation in payroll contribution charitable campaigns at public and private worksites in Texas.

Examples of workplaces that include the option to donate through EarthShare Texas include:

  • ChevronEarthShare of Texas logo
  • Aetna
  • Allstate Insurance
  • AT&T
  • El Paso Corporation
  • Halliburton
  • Hawes Hill & Associates
  • Hewlett Packard
  • Wal-Mart
  • Wells Fargo
  • State Employee Charitable Campaign
  • Combined Federal Campaign
  • City of Houston’s Combined Municipal Campaign
  • and many, many more…

Through EarthShare, you can direct your donation to just CEC, a selection of your favorite environmental nonprofits, or all of the organizations that participate in EarthShare Texas.

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COALITION NOTES

  1. Education Seminar: LED Lighting in Houston. October 23, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. LED Lighting is becoming more prevalent and less expensive these days along with the hype, some good and some bad. This is an opportunity to catch up with what the USGBC chapter is up to from Chair Richard Hunton, and to learn about the energy saving potential of LED lighting technology. Aaron McDonald will cover the perspective from the manufacturers side both current and future trends in LED’s. John Bos will take the designers view and give his experiences and lessons learned from the lighting design and installation perspective. The seminar is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please register online at usgbctexasgulfcoast.org or call 832-394-9050.
  2. CWI: H-GAC Website User Training for Water Quality Apps. This workshop will train H-GAC website users how to use some of the water quality applications such as the WRIM (Water Resources Information Map), the OSSF Mapping Function (On-site Sewage Facility or Septic System), and the EcoLocical Application. Speakers include Bill Bass, Bill Hoffman, Meredith Dang, Amy Boyers, and Will Merrell. The workshop will be held on October 24, 2013, 1:30-4:30pm at H-GAC, Conference Room A. Register with H-GAC.
  3. L.A.N.D.S. Outreach Teacher Workshop. Texas Wildlife Association along with Armand Bayou Nature Center is hosting “Learning Across New Dimensions In Science (L.A.N.D.S.) Outreach Teacher Workshop.” This is a free workshop for elementary teachers in the Harris & surrounding county region teaching our wildlife & habitat-based curriculum, aligned to the TEKS for life sciences, and organism & environments. October 26, 2013, from 9am-3:30pm at the Armand Bayou Nature Center. Cost is free with attendance. Preregistration fee of $15 required to hold your seat will be refunded upon attendance. Lunch not provided. Register today by emailing Heather Millar at heather@abnc.org. Learn more at http://abnc.org/.
  4. Public Forum: Master Planning Process for Memorial Park. Be a part of the planning process for Memorial Park by attending the first in a series of public forums related to the long-term Master Plan for the Park. The forum will be held on October 29, 2013, from 6:30-8:30pm at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. For more information, email development@memorialparkhouston.org.
  5. USGBC Construction & Demolition UnConference. The next USGBC UnConference will be October 30, 2013. These UnConferences will be highly interactive, designed to bring together those who need Recycling help and those who can provide it. If you’re wanting to recycle more but have challenges that you’d like help in overcoming, these UnConferences are for you! Email recycling@usgbctexasgulfcoast.org if you have any questions! http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org/
  6. 21st Annual Houston Conservation Luncheon. Join The Nature Conservancy for their 21st Annual Conservation Luncheon, featuring world-renowned explorer and adventurer Peter Hillary. Son of the late Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to successfully climb Mt. Everest, Hillary has adventure woven into his DNA. He has a wealth of stories from a lifetime of high adventure, including more than 30 alpine expeditions around the globe. He has climbed Mt. Everest five times, conquered the highest peaks on all seven continents and traversed Antarctica to reach the South Pole, thus achieving some of the most significant accomplishments in the world of adventuring and exploration. The luncheon will take place on October 31, 2013, from 11am-1pm, at the Houston Hyatt Regency Downtown.  Learn more at www.nature.org.
  7. Effluent Bacterial Loading Workshop. Texas A&M Engineering and Extension Service and Galveston Bay Bay Conservation and Preservation Association present this Effluent Bacterial Loading Workshop. Join this workshop on November 1, 2013, 1-5pm at League City Civic Center to review bacteria effluent regulations, issues causing violations, laboratory testing overview, and best practices for resolving bacteria violations. Galveston Bay Foundation will also provide participants with an update on the Upper Gulf Coast Oyster Waters TMDL Implementation Plan, and their activities around the bay to help reduce bacteria levels. 4.0 CEU credits, refreshments and raffle prizes will be offered. This workshop is offered free of charge for Wastewater operators/superintendents, lab personnel, watershed planners, TMDL workgroup/committee members, etc. Registration is required. For questions and to register, contact at Charlene Bohanon at cbohanon@galvbay.org. http://cechouston.org/
  8. Collaborative Access Program Event: A Local Perspective on Collaborative Projects & Ecosystem Services. The services nature provides to humans, also known as ecosystem services, are important to our wellbeing. Come for a conversation with Mary Anne Piacentini, Executive Director of Katy Prairie Conservancy, as she illustrates how local collaborative partnerships are working to develop a better understanding of the benefits of our region’s diverse natural resources. This event will be held on October 31, 2013, 10am-noon, at United Way of Greater Houston. To RSVP, please email Holly Thorson at holly@houstonwilderness.org or visit www.houstonwilderness.org.
  9. Livable Center Sponsors. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is seeking proposals from local governments or other eligible project sponsors to conduct Livable Centers planning studies. The objective of the planning studies is to help create quality, walkable,  mixed-use places, create multi-modal travel choices, improve environmental quality, and promote economic development and housing choice. Study recommendations will ideally lead to locally sponsored Livable Centers projects for possible inclusion in the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and future Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP). Note: This is not a request for proposals from consulting firms. More info on the H-GAC website. Deadline: November 1, 2013.
  10. Native Prairie Plant-a-thon. Volunteers are needed to plant 2,500 native coastal prairie grasses and forbs. This event will help the park continue the restoration of 400 acres from farmland to native prairie habitat and reestablish the diverse wildlife that it once had. Located in northeast Harris County, Sheldon Lake Environ­mental Learning Center is visited by thousands of children and adults each year who take guided nature walks, study ecosystems, go fishing, experience pond ecology, and see alternative energy in action. Restoring this prairie will enhance the educational programs at the Learning Center. Come out and volunteer for the Native Prairie Plant-a-thon on November 9, 2013, from 8am-noon. Contact laura.babcock@tpwd.texas.gov or visit http://cechouston.org/.
  11. Run to Support Hermann Park. Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 8 a.m. Put your running shoes on and join us for HPC’s 10th annual Run in the Park. The scenic 5K course will twist and turn along Hermann Park’s carriage trails under the canopy of the Park’s historic live oaks. The event consists of a 5K Run/Walk, a 1K Kids’ Fun Run, and a post-race party around the Pioneer Memorial Obelisk in Molly Ann Smith Plaza in Hermann Park. Advance registration cost for adults: $30; for kids: $15. For more info, click here.
  12. Coastal Prairie Partnership Grant. Coastal Prairie Partnership is offering a small ($250) grant to assist a school/teacher in furthering pollinator education at their school. If you know of a school or teacher who might be a good fit for this grant, please pass the information on. The grant deadline is December 1, 2013. Download CPP Grant Flyer.
  13. Our Great Region 2040. Our Great Region 2040 is a high-level plan whose aim is for Our Region to be one of the world’s greatest places to live, work, and succeed, as defined by measurable goals, by the year 2040. It is the result of the efforts of hundreds of organizations and thousands of people from across H-GAC’s 13-county service area. It is based on research, analysis, and extensive public input, along with the knowledge and expertise of local leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, spanning Our Region’s urban, suburban, rural, and coastal areas. The draft Our Great Region 2040 plan was released for public comment on October 16, 2013. The public comment period will run through November 15, 2013. During this time you may provide your comments either at one of 5 open houses held throughout the region or online at the plan website ourregion.org.

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. ASCE & Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum. The ASCE & Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum will be held on October 23, 2013, from 1:30-5:30pm at the Trini Mendenhall Sosa Center. The forum will take a look at the new LID projects in Houston. Learn more at http://www.houstonlwsforum.org/.
  2. More than Honey at MFAH. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is screening More Than Honey on October, 23, 2013. Oscar-nominated director Markus Imhoof (The Boat is Full) tackles the vexing issue of why bees are facing worldwide extinction. He “captures the breeding of queen bees in minute detail, ventures to a laboratory to witness a bee brain scan, and discovers the dangerous prospects of a hive facing the infection of mites. In this latter case, the camera’s magnifying power renders the infection in sci-fi terms, as if we’ve stumbled into a discarded scene from David Cronenberg’s The Fly.” —IndieWire. More at http://www.mfah.org/.
  3. Westchase Farmers Market. The Westchase Farmers Market will open on Thursday, October 24, 2013. Sponsored by the Westchase District, the market will operate on Thursdays from 3-6 pm (4 to 7 pm during the summer months) in the parking lot of St. Cyril’s of Alexandria Church, 10503 Westheimer (at Rogerdale), just a few blocks outside the Beltway.  For more information, go towww.westchasedistrict.com or contact the market manager, John Carey (farmersmarket@westchasedistrict.com).
  4. 2013 Edible Garden Tour. Join the Blackwood Educational Land Institute on October 26, 3013, 12-6pm, for a tour of a selection of beautiful edible gardens in the Houston area. Learn about food production in the Bayou City, share ideas and experiences, and build community. Leave with the confidence to return home, play in the dirt, and grow your own organic edible gardens. Spend a beautiful fall day with your neighbors sampling delicious organic food straight from the ground. A day among nature is a day well spent. The full tour package is $30; individual gardens are $10. Learn more at blackwoodland.org.
  5. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10am-2pm on Saturday, October 26, 2013. This is a great opportunity for those who missed previous events or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs to safely dispose of those medications. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. Find a collection site near you: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/.
  6. Oktohbafest. Join OHBA for beer, bites, and organic benefits at the 2nd annual Oktohbafest on October 26, 2013! The festival will take place from 6:30-9:30pm at the Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. Tickets are $35 in advance or if you wear a costume; otherwise $40 at the door. There will be local music, lite bites from top local chefs, and unlimited top quality craft beers. 100% of net proceeds will support organic education and the Sustainability Scholarship Fund. http://cechouston.org/
  7. The New Ecology: Managing for Resilience in a Changing World. Join Society for Ecological Restoration, Texas Chapter, and Texas Riparian Association along the banks of the South Llano River on the campus of Texas Tech University’s Llano River Field Station for TXSER and TRA’s 2013 Conference, The New Ecology: Managing for Resilience in a Changing World. Participants will enjoy: Friday field trips and workshop; stimulating presentations on topics related to restoration, management and conservation issues in Texas; opportunities to network with fellow environmentalists; delicious meals; a social and poster session; and awards for lifetime achievement in the field and for student posters and presentations. The conference will be held November 1-2, 2013. Registration is now open. Learn more at https://www.eventbrite.com/.
  8. 2nd Annual West University Recycles Day. Get ready for green. On Saturday, November 2, 2013 from 11am-2pm, the City of West University Place will be hosting its second annual West U Recycles Day event. Held at Colonial Park on 4130 Byron Street, West U Recycles Day is a local event where the nearby communities can come together to enhance the spirit of reduce, reuse, and recycle. West U Recycles Day is inspired by America Recycles Day, a program of Keep America Beautiful. This year will feature a recycled art contest for children, fun music, green-inspired children activities, collection of recyclables, food trucks, and exhibitors creating awareness on things you can do to reduce your waste footprint. The event is great for the whole family, so bring the kids, your appetite, and your thirst for knowledge, and be ready to have a great time while learning more about resource conservation. More details at http://www.westutx.gov/.
  9. 5th Annual Bellaire Recycles Fest. The Bellaire Environmental and Sustainability Board will celebrate the fifth-annual Bellaire Recycles Fest from 9am-1pm on November 2, 2013 at Loftin Park, 5100 Laurel St. The Bellaire Recycles Fest is a community-focused event featuring for-profit and non-profit businesses and organizations that focus on green practices, products and services. The event is held to raise awareness and educate the community on the economic, social and environmental benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling. There will be a convenient drive through drop-off at the Condit Elementary School parking lot to recycle electronics, batteries, paint, scrap metal, clothing and sensitive documents for shredding. More at http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/.
  10. Pollution Prevention and Lean Principles Workshop. A Pollution Prevention and Lean Principles Workshop will be held in Houston from November 5-7, 2013. This course will provide you with the opportunity to improve the efficiency of your organization through the elimination of pollutants and the application of lean principles within an environmental managmeent system. The first day will focus on how an EHS manager can transform their role as “EHS compliance officer” into a sutainability and profit manager. There will also be an overview of principles of lean operations so you are equipped to improve the bottom line, reduce your regulatory burdens, and increase the overall efficiency of your organization. The next two days will be an interactive workshop lead by experts in pollution prevention, environmental management systems (EMS), environmental regulations, and energy efficiency. The course will walk you through the process of composing a pollution prevention plan or renewing your pollution prevention plan to ensure you get the most from your efforts. Finally participants in this course will integrate their lean and polluton prevention plan using detailed value stream mapping. The fee is $495. More at https://web-ded.uta.edu/.
  11. Texas Watershed Steward Workshop. Two free Texas Watershed Stewards Workshops on water quality and availability issues in the Greater Houston Area will be held November 5 and 6, 2013 from 8am-4pm. The Texas Watershed Steward workshops are free, one-day educational workshops designed to help watershed residents improve and protect their water resources by getting involved in local watershed protection and management activities. The workshops will provide an overview of water quality and watershed management in Texas. They will primarily focus on water quality issues in the Houston area as well as efforts by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, and area residents to help improve water resources and the health of the surrounding watersheds. Both workshops are free, but seating will be limited and participants are encouraged to preregister at http://tws.tamu.edu.
  12. Hike & Seek. Hike & Seek is an outdoor adventure specially designed for children ages 3-10. Join the National Wildlife Federation for a family-friendly 1-2 mile hike and discover exciting activities along the way including a scavenger hunt, nature games and crafts, live wildlife displays, stations along the trail with our volunteer naturalists, the chance to meet Ranger Rick and so much more. This exciting event will take place on November 9, 2013 at Cullinan Park at Oyster Creek in Sugarland. Register now at hikeandseek.org. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/.
  13. Gulf Coast Bioneers. Join Gulf Coast Bioneers for a two-day forum exploring the practical solutions and innovative social strategies that are revitalizing our community. Connect with other on-the-ground innovators, change agents, and thought leaders from business, education, government, and the community.  The conference will be held in Houston from November 8-9, 2013. Saturday conference pass is $65. Sunday and Saturday conference pass is $85. Register HERE.
  14. 2013 Feral Hog Management Workshop. The Feral Hog Management Workshop will be held on Saturday, November 9, from 8am-4:30pm at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Building D located at 4310 Highway 36 South in Rosenberg. Topics include: Basic biology of feral swine & feral hog implications to the watershed; Population dynamics of feral hogs; Laws & regulations for hunting feral hogs; Water quality in southeast Texas; and more. Please register by November 6. Early registration is $15 per person. On site is $20 per person. There are no refunds. http://cechouston.org/
  15. The Green Cup Challenge. The Green Cup Challengeâ„¢ invites all schools — public and private, day and boarding schools — to measure and reduce campus electricity use and green house gas emissions, and supports campus greening efforts including recycling and water conservation. It is a month long, inter-school competition that empowers students and builds community, while raising awareness about climate change and the importance of resource conservation. The challenge will be held from November 4, 2013 – December 6, 2013. The last day to register is October 28th. More at http://greencupchallenge.net/.
  16. News from TCEQ.
    • Rulemaking Actions: Several rulemaking items related to clean air grants drayage, clean fleet, clean vehicles, etc.) were submitted for consideration at the November 6, 2013, Commission Agenda meeting.
    • Upcoming hearings: Control of Air Pollution From Motor Vehicles, 10/29/2013 at H-GAC, other hearings to be held elsewhere in state; Rainwater Harvesting, 11/5/2013 in Austin.
    • TCEQ Agenda meeting: October 23, 2013 draft: disposal of radioactive waste; renewal of general permit for disposal of wastewater by evaporation or beneficial irrigation adjacent to water in the state from livestock manure  compost operations; “Advanced Clean Energy Projects;” recommendation for the 2012 primary annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for submittal to the governor; a petition for rulemaking on Control of Air Pollution from Nitrogen Compounds; rules for the authorization of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the extent required under federal law; and radioactive substance rules.
    • Permit Hearings: None listed for our region.
    • Small Business Advisory Committee: The next Houston SBAC meeting will be held on Thursday, October 24th from 10:00 am -12:00 pm at the Southwest Shipyard, Channelview facility, for a tour of the facility. mFor questions or more information, contact Stephen Scalise, 713-767-3726 . Also, SBAC’s quarterly edition of The Advocate is now available.
  17. 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).
    • Austin’s Warblers
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Jack & Jan Cato
    • Pedernales Falls Bike Trails
    • Selling Texas
  18. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • October 22, 2013: Green–Good. Moderate winds, low incoming background levels, and cooler temperatures should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • October 23, 2013: Green–Good. Moderate winds and/or low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • October 24, 2013: Green–Good. Moderate winds and/or 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. Midtown street a sign of things to come (Robin Foster – Memorial Examiner, 10/15/2013)
    Street construction in Houston has reached a crossroads, and a project in Midtown was at its center on Thursday, Oct. 10. The project, which rebuilt portions of Bagby and Pierce streets in Midtown, is the first in Texas to be certified by the Greenroads Foundation for meeting select criteria for sustainability. But its design also illustrates a “transformative” idea proposed by Mayor Annise Parker in a new Complete Streets and Transportation Plan for the city.
    http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/
  2. Rainfall halts water plan for Matagorda Bay (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle, 10/16/2013)
    The Lower Colorado River Authority told state regulators Wednesday that heavy rainfall had eliminated the urgency to withhold water from the bay for the benefit of upstream users. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was scheduled to approve the emergency plan next month. “Significant runoff has occurred in the lower basin that will provide required inflows to the bay this month,” Becky Motal, the authority’s general manager, wrote to the state commission. She left open the possibility of the issue returning in December.
    http://www.chron.com/
  3. Want to Learn About a Nearby Dam? In Texas, Some Questions Are Off Limits (Mose Buchele – StateImpact, 10/16/2013)
    In the FEMA booklet “Living with Dams,” the agency urges people to “ask questions” about the condition and hazard rating of dams near their homes. But here in Texas, no one needs to answer those questions. “There are certain things that we are not allowed to share like the hazard classification of a dam or something that’s more related to homeland security,” Warren Samuelson, Manager of the Texas Dam Safety Program, explained to StateImpact Texas. The reason is a 2005 opinion by the Texas Attorney General that keeps information about dams secret – citing concerns for homeland security. The results of that secrecy in Texas can be confusing.
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
  4. Controversial “restoration.” (David Crossley – HoustonTomorrow, 10/17/2013) The US Army Corps of Engineers has denied a Nationwide Permit to “restore” 7,200 linear feet of Buffalo Bayou near the River Oaks Country Club. The project, by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), is meant to deal with erosion and rivercourse issues, and was originally proposed by the Bayou Preservation Association.
    www.houstontomorrow.org
  5. Scoop.it Page. The CEC is now maintaining a page on
    Scoop.it. Check it out! http://www.scoop.it/t/citizens-environmental-coalition-houston

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GREEN JOBS Tell them you heard about it from us! Previously posted job
listings can be found on CEC’s Green Jobs page.

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

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Friday, October 25, 2013

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Sunday, October 27, 2013

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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 coalition 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.

Donate Now!

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

Rachel Powers, Executive Director
Sophany Touch, IREX Community Solutions Fellow/Wildlife Alliance
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
Stephanie Hernandez, Communications Coordinator
(713) 524-4232

news@cechouston.org
cechouston.org
www.facebook.com/cecHouston

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