Calendar
CERF 2021 26th Biennial ConferenceAt the CERF 2021 conference, you and CERF’s colleagues will come together to network, celebrate our work, learn from each other, and grow within our amazing field as we endeavor to connect science and society in the collective goals of preserving coastal and estuarine habitats, resources, and heritage. Join them to collaborate and discuss with more than 1,300 scientists and researchers from all over the world. Register Today
CERF 2021 Is Going Virtual!
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Hermann Park Bird Survey
Leaders: Skip Almoney and Peter Tsan
They meet at 8:00 AM (7:30 in the summer months). Take the Parking Lot D entry from
Masks are optional for vaccinated participants and social distancing is recommended. Please wear a mask if unvaccinated. Please contact Julie Francis at hermannparkbirdsurvey@gmail.com if you’d like to participate. The Hermann Park Survey is conducted on the second Monday of the month. Everyone is welcome — beginners, experts, or even if you’re just curious. Please bring binoculars. If you don’t have any, let them know in advance and they’ll provide them.
For more information, please visit houstonaudubon.org/birding/bird-surveys.
Chapter Meeting: Native Trees for Southeast Texas
Monday, November 8 • 6:40 p.m.
Location: Zoom and In-person
Bayou Building, Forest Room (B1418)
University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058
Please join the Native Plant Society of Texas for our first hybrid chapter meeting! The guest speaker will be joining us remotely.
In-person registration:Â bit.ly/2XCxrAH
Virtual registration:Â bit.ly/3B4v5bh
Let’s celebrate Texas Arbor Day (Nov. 5) by learning about some of Texas’ native trees. Their speaker this month will provide an overview of trees and shrubs commonly found in Southeast Texas and along the upper Gulf Coast.
About the Speaker
Michael Merritt has been with Texas A&M Forest Service since 1999. As a regional community forester, he is involved in programs that demonstrate the value of utilizing trees as a tool for meeting the Houston area’s air and water quality requirements as well as projects that demonstrate the Healthy Trees Healthy Lives (HTHL) concept, for example, how trees help improve human health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, obesity, and improved learning and behavior in school. Prior to the Forest Service, Merritt worked in residential tree care, worked as a vegetation management forester for HL&P, and owned his own consulting business focusing on working with NGOs.
Masks are strongly encouraged. Please practice social distancing while in the Bayou Building. If you are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home.
They’ll gather at 6:30 p.m. to sign in and enjoy some social time. Chapter business is taken care of at 6:40 p.m., followed by the Plant of the Month presentation, and the program begins at 7 p.m.
Clear Lake Chapter meetings are on the 2nd Monday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There is a meet and greet at 6:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting at 6:45 p.m. and program at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to the public; visitors are welcome.
As recent scientific reports have made clear, a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is needed to avoid the worst impacts of a changing climate. The multifaith statement to the U.N. Climate Conference, Walk on Earth Gently, invites people of faith into a journey of Living the Change that the world needs – a transformation to a sustainable lifestyle. The journey is inspired by religious teachings to turn away from consumerism & to seek balanced relationships with all people and the planet we share as our common home. Texans of all faiths, or no faith at all, are invited join us on the journey, in a weekly small group discussion focused on making personal lifestyle changes in three key areas: transportation, energy, and food. Join us on this 12-week journey to reducing your contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Can’t make it every week? Join us as you are able. A detailed schedule is given below. All participants will receive a copy of Living the Change materials. Are you ready to commit to a more sustainable lifestyle? Then join us on this journey to Living the Change.  Please register for this event on www.eventbrite.com.
Sept. 28:Â Introduction & Transport, week 1
Oct. 5, Oct. 12 & Oct. 19: Transport, weeks 2, 3 & 4
Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 9 & Nov. 16: Energy, weeks 1, 2, 3, & 4
Nov. 23, Nov. 30, & Dec. 7: Food, weeks 1, 2 & 3
Dec. 14: Food, week 4 & closing
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
7:00 pm to 8:30 PM
​Historic Heights Fire Station
107 West 12th St (at Yale St) Houston, Texas 77008
RSVPÂ Â contact@whiteoakbayou.org
Title:Â Flood Resilience Planning for Harris County
Presenter: Craig T. Maske, P.E., CFW, Chief Planning Officer, Harris County Flood Control District, HCFCD Liaison to Harris County Infrastructure Resilience TeamSummary: The Harris County Infrastructure Resilience Team (IRT) was convened in 2020 to develop a comprehensive Flood Resilience Plan to prepare for, withstand, respond to, and recover from flood events. The cross-departmental IRT is working collaboratively with the Community Flood Resilience Task Force to develop a holistic approach to improving flood resilience, guided by principles including equity, historical problems and social vulnerabilities, reclamation and preservation of floodplains, encouraging the use of nature-based solutions, and protecting communities, homes and businesses in the county from flood-related hazards. The presentation will review the planning process, the plan status and ways that the public can participate in resilience.
Visitation of Deer Park Prairie is by appointment only. Since the prairie will be attended on scheduled workdays, they will be ideal days to visit. Please email Lan.shen@txgcmn.org for appointment on either workdays or any other days.
Please do not park directly in front of our neighbors’ houses – park across the street.
As always on the prairie, wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. For seed collecting, bring clippers if you have them. Also recommended are long-sleeved shirt, hat, water, insect repellent, sunscreen.
Email Lan.shen@txgcmn.orgÂ
Looking for a place to get your children outdoors? ABNC’s EcoClasses will allow your child to explore, discover and observe (STEM). Join them for some great nature experiences! Check out their website at abnc.org for details or call 713-274-2668 to reserve your spot.
EcoTots are for children 18-36 months with an adult every Friday.
EcoKids are for children ages 3-6 every Wednesday and Friday.
EcoSchoolers are for homeschool children ages 7-10 every Wednesday and Friday.  EcoAdventurers are for children ages 11-14 every Wednesday.
Please bring a Snack, Refillable Water Bottle, mask, closed toe shoes and dress for the weather.
Environment Protectors Initiating Change (E.P.I.C)
E.P.I.C. is a free service learning club for high school teens that is aimed at learning about, and solving coastal environmental problems through hands-on projects.
If you would like to:
- Make a difference
- Help your community
- Make new friends
- Gain volunteer hours
- Have fun
Join them for a meeting at the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center on Wednesdays 4 pm – 5 pm!
It’s time for inspiration, connection, and discovery, and STAT is thoughtfully moving forward with plans to offer an in-person experience this November. Additionally, a Virtual CAST is scheduled for February 2022 and will feature selected content from the in-person event. CAST registration will include access to the virtual event, and a separate registration option for just the virtual event will later be available.
With health and safety being the highest priority and in response to changing circumstances, STAT may need to adapt programming and/or implement requirements to participate in the in-person event. This may include one or more of the following: masks, social distancing, capacity limits, and/or vaccination/negative test results.
Changes in programming or safety guidelines will be communicated regularly, and flexible options for cancelling or transferring registration to the virtual event will be available.