The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston invites you to consider the challenges and opportunities that lie before Houston, a key city in the global response to changing weather patterns, emerging economies and changing consumer preferences and needs. The future of Houston as a serious competitor in the global marketplace lies in many of the choices that will be made in the next few years. Houses of worship will have a key role to play in resilience. Resilience requires knowledge and the will to find a different way, and spiritual conviction and strength are absolutely necessary to achieve this. In this presentation, Jim Blackburn will discuss the scope of current problems, some ideas to bring resilience to our community in the future, and the role of houses of worship could play in realizing this future. For more information and to register, visit www.eventbrite.com.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is holding eight public hearings and a webinar to solicit public comments on Draft Amendment 9 – Coral Habitat Areas Considered for Management in the Gulf of Mexico. The Council is currently considering creating several new coral habitat areas of particular concern in the Gulf of Mexico.

In the Houston area, a public hearing will be held:

Wednesday, May 9, 2018, beginning at 6 p.m.
Hampton Inn & Suites Houston/League City
2320 Gulf Freeway South
League City, Texas 77573
(281) 614-5437

To view the document and video, or submit and read comments, please visit gulfcouncil.org.

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.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council’s May Brown Bag Lunch will feature a presentation called “Port of Houston: Looking Ahead” by Richard Bymes, the Port’s Chief Infrastructure Officer.

How Clean are Galveston Bay’s waters? What is being done to protect them? What can I do to help?

Join GBF as we tackle these questions and enjoy happy hour at Tommy’s Restaurant.

When: Monday, May 21st, 2018; 5:30-7:00pm

Where: Tommy’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar.
2555 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, Texas 77058

Summer is around the corner! And that means swimming, boating, and fishing, all of which depend on a healthy Galveston Bay. Galveston Bay Foundation works to ensure that our Bay remains fishable and swimmable, both this summer and for many seasons to come. Join GBF to learn more about this work, current water quality findings for Galveston Bay, and what you can do to help maintain a safe and healthy Bay.

Appetizers will be provided by Tommy’s Oyster Bar. Registration is required. Click the link to RSVP, or email waterquality@galvbay.org.

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

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research welcomes Amy Liu, vice president and director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings and the Adeline M. and Alfred I. Johnson Chair in Urban and Metropolitan Policy. Liu’s presentation “Resilience and Opportunity Following Disruptive Events” explores how to stay resilient during natural and man-made disasters. For more information and to register, visit kinder.rice.edu/events.

Join Amy Liu, vice president and director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at The Brookings Institution, as she discusses economic development, regional innovation and lessons learned from Hurricanes Harvey and Katrina.

The Water Efficiency Network of the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation Network welcomes Jason Afinowicz, P.E., Associate and Project Manager for Freese and Nichols, Inc., in a talk titled “Regional Water Planning: What Is It & Why Is It Important to Me?”

Jason Afinowicz is managing the Region H Water Plan, a part of the Texas State Water Plan. In 1997, the state legislature determined that a Texas State Water Plan for the 2000-2050 timeframe would be developed through a regional water planning approach. Revised plans would be developed every 5 years. To accomplish this, 16 “regional” water planning groups were formed. Montgomery County and all or part of 15 other counties in our area are within Region H. The stakeholder-driven process includes the culmination of a long-range plan to meet the region’s need for water in 2070, when the population of the region is expected to reach almost 12 million people, as well as the sustained growth of the region’s massive industrial complex. Region H is in the fifth cycle of the 5-year planning process and is currently preparing the 2021-2071 plan. Each plan includes determining how much water the region will need over the 50-year period (demand), the supply of water that is available during that time frame (available groundwater, surface water, etc.), and what strategies the region can implement in order to meet deficits (desalination, new reservoirs, increased conservation, etc.). This process affects every resident and business in Montgomery County and the region. Moreover, Region H wants you to get involved.

On June 2, 2018, from 9-10:30 a.m., Artist Boat will share the full vision for the Coastal Heritage Preserve and the Gulf Coast Educational Center.  Artist Boat will present the public education and access plan, habitat management plan, and accomplishments to date of the Coastal Heritage Preserve.  Learn more about the status of the remaining acreage of Marquette and Anchor Bay still at stake for future development. The meeting will take place at Galveston Country Club, 14228 Stewart Road. A light breakfast will be served. RSVP to Candace Jones, executiveassistant@artistboat.org or 409-770-0722.