Join us for the Parks and Natural Areas (PNA) Roundtable on Monday, July 8, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor.

The PNA Roundtable serves as a forum for discussion of issues related to parks and natural areas, promotes the PNA Award Program, and maintains a regional inventory of parks. The PNA roundtable facilitates information exchange and planning efforts between various stakeholders and collaborators to protect and preserve parks and natural areas across the region. To register visit events.r20.constantcontact.com/register.

Editor –

Throughout the Greater Houston area our waterways are at risk.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) recently approved the City of South Houston to remove safeguards on how much mercury is allowed to enter Berry Creek, which flows into Galveston Bay. Until now, the TCEQ regulated mercury that entered our waterways through wastewater in the City of South Houston’s treatment facilities.

Tell the City of South Houston to protect our communities!

Mercury poses a serious health risk due to its ability to easily enter the food chain from the fish we eat. Regulations on testing for mercury help keep treatment facilities accountable for their actions, keeping our waterways clean and our communities healthy. 

Bayou City Waterkeeper challenged the change in regulations and is urging  the City of South Houston and the TCEQ to require mercury testing in our local waters.

Tell TCEQ that you want your waters tested for mercury! Sign the petition today to keep mercury out of our bayous and Galveston Bay.

As Texans, we know we are stronger and louder together! Let’s submit as many signatures and comments as possible, using our power to make positive change.

The Brays Bayou Association meets the third Monday of each month at The Gathering Place. Brays Bayou Association does not currently have a website.

All are welcome to Houston Renewable Energy Group’s monthly meetings! They will have a presentation on an interesting aspect of renewable energy in Houston, review HREG business, progress, and plan events. After the meeting, they usually spend some time socializing and finding out what is happening on the renewable scene in Houston from each other. Monthly Meetings are the best place for members to learn about HREG, ask questions, and provide suggestions.

If you are interested in volunteering or becoming a voting member, attending this meeting would be a great opportunity for you to learn more about what HREG does and how you can help. For more information, contact HREG.

This workshop, led by CTRA, will focus on needs and solutions specific to rural recycling centers and options for rural communities to support sustainable programs. For further information visit www.facebook.com/events

Join Mayor Sylvester Turner and Sustainability Office as they present recommended strategies for the City’s Climate Action Plan.

The strategies will highlight actions across four key areas:

1. building optimization,
2. decarbonization,
3. transportation, and
4. materials management.

The City of Houston has set an ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, which means that we must reduce or offset any carbon dioxide that we release into the atmosphere.

The Climate Action Plan will outline goals, strategies, and actions that we as a City and community plan to take to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The proposed plan is the result of a data- and stakeholder- driven process, organized in partnership with the Houston Advanced Research Center.

Join the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Save Water Texas Coalition for a Clean Waters Initiative Field Trip on August 8 to learn more about the coalition’s programs and tour its brand new Water Quality Mobile Teaching Lab.

The meeting and tour will be at the North Harris County Regional Water Authority, 3648 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston. Please dress in cool, comfortable, casual clothing appropriate for outdoor weather. Parking is available but carpooling would be helpful if several folks from one organization are attending. Transportation will not be provided to the meeting location.

The Save Water Texas Coalition’s mission is to promote public understanding and discourse about the challenge and opportunity to secure the state’s water future.Coalition focuses include water conservation, water reuse, and water pollution education and outreach to assure sustainability of groundwater and surface water resources for our state. Examples of resources include PattyPotty.com, SunflowerSuzie.com, TexasWaterHog.com, and much more.

For more information about the field trip or the Clean Waters Initiative workshop series, please contact Brian.Sims@h-gac.com or 713-993-2438. 

The Brays Bayou Association meets the third Monday of each month at The Gathering Place. Brays Bayou Association does not currently have a website.

All are welcome to Houston Renewable Energy Group’s monthly meetings! They will have a presentation on an interesting aspect of renewable energy in Houston, review HREG business, progress, and plan events. After the meeting, they usually spend some time socializing and finding out what is happening on the renewable scene in Houston from each other. Monthly Meetings are the best place for members to learn about HREG, ask questions, and provide suggestions.

If you are interested in volunteering or becoming a voting member, attending this meeting would be a great opportunity for you to learn more about what HREG does and how you can help. For more information, contact HREG.