The Trust for Public Land
Purpose: The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
Programs: Conservation Vision (“Greenprints”); Conservation Finance (public funding); Conservation Transactions (easement and fee acquisitions); Texas Water Protection and Parks Intiative; ParkScore; Parks for People. TPL is active in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston/Galveston and Austin/San Antonio regions.
Major Events: Earth Day Dallas.
Publications: Land & People, a semi-annual national magazine; The Trust for Public Land – Texas, a state newsletter; TPL Near You, an electronic newsletter.
Robert Kent, State Director
Robert.kent@tpl.org
Mike Lange, Senior Project Manager, Texas Coast
Mike.lange@tpl.org
Marlon P. Connley, Houston Program Manager
Tel: (832) 627-7688
SPLASh
SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines) educates grades 5-12 on marine debris & trash pollution in the Houston-Galveston coastal ecosystems. We facilitate TEKS-supported, interactive lessons virtually or in-person and offer off campus trash clean ups and data collection activities! Contact splashtx@abcbirds.org for more information!
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, South Texas Local Section
Purpose: To support the membership’s technical objectives through education, service, and fellowship.
Meetings: First Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m., Sept. through June. Please check the website for speaker, location, and topic.
Programs: Continuing education workshops at monthly meetings, which include environmental and process safety.
Major Events: Cosponsor Energy Conservation Forum with Texas Industries of the Future twice per year. See the website for the date and location.
Speakers Bureau: Contact Matt Kolodney, (713) 767-3752 (work), (713) 471-8956 (cell) or mkolodne@tceq.state.tx.us.
Chair: Dr. Thomas E. Rehm
sts-chairelect@aiche.org
Secretary: Debra McCall
sts-secretary@aiche.org
Shell Center for Sustainability at Rice U
Purpose: The Shell Center for Sustainability’s mission is to foster an interdisciplinary program of research, outreach, and education to address actions that can be taken to ensure the sustainable development of communities’ living standards, interpreted broadly, to encompass all factors affecting the overall quality of life. In our Vision, the Shell Center for Sustainability is the regional expert in Gulf Coast sustainable development by fostering academic research, outreach and education initiatives in interdisciplinary partnerships and through collaborations that extend outreach from the Florida Keys to the Yucatan Peninsula with strong focus in the Houston and Galveston Region.
Programs: The Center supports faculty research on critical matters such as understanding ozone formation and the impact of invasive species on biodiversity. We foster awareness of sustainability issues among our students by providing unusual opportunities to learn about how diverse elements of society may contribute to the sustainability of our planet.
Events: Land Use Conference, Research, Outreach, Presentations, Reports and Publications.
Publications: Shell Center for Sustainability Annual Report, Quality of Life
Atlas, Sustainable Communities and Public Education. All accessible online.
Speakers: Yes – Video presentations available online.
Dr. John B. Anderson, Academic Director
713-348-4884
johna@rice.edu
Lilibeth André, Associate Director
Operations, Administration & Public Relations
713-348-2796
Lilibeth.Andre@rice.edu
Houston-Galveston Area Council
Purpose: The Houston-Galveston Area Council is a region-wide voluntary association of local governments in the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning region of Texas. H-GAC’s mission is to serve as the instrument of local government cooperation, promoting the region’s orderly development and the safety and welfare of its citizens. Key governmental services include transportation planning, disaster resiliency, cooperative purchasing, homeland security, workforce development, air and water quality planning, forecasting, and mapping.
Programs: H-GAC engages in a variety of collaborative environmental planning efforts including watershed protection, solid waste management and air quality for sustainable development. It is also actively involved in education and public awareness programs, including Commute Solutions and NuRide, the Clean Waters Initiative, Regional Recycling Roundtable.
Volunteer Opportunities: H-GAC offers year-round volunteer opportunities through our Texas Stream Team volunteer water monitoring program, as well as at a one-day Trash Bash waterway cleanup event. For more information on opportunities, visit http://www.h-gac.com/go/getinvolved.
Jeff Taebel, Director of Community and Environmental Planning
(713) 993-4560
jeff.taebel@h-gac.com
Kathy Janhsen, Principal Program Coordinator
Kathy.janhsen@h-gac.com
(713) 993-2423
Surfrider Foundation – Texas Chapter
Purpose: To preserve and protect the Texas coast and its recreational resources. To defend the Texas Open Beaches Act. Our issues are water quality, beach access, erosion, and coastal development. Our goal is to stand on the beach 30 years from now and be able to say, “We made the right decisions.” We were founded in 1999.
Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month in Houston.
Programs: Respect the Beach – education program for schools; Blue Water Task Force – beach water testing; Rise Above Plastics – reduce plastic pollution; Ocean Friendly Gardens – reduce urban runoff.
Children’s Activities: Science and education projects, beach activities, surf lessons.
Volunteer Opportunities: Beach cleanups, public education programs, water testing, fundraising, government relations, public relations, and advertising.
Publications: “Making Waves” – national publication (monthly publication also available on the web) Beachapedia – internet resource beachapedia.org/Main_P
Ellis Pickett, Chairman
(713) 906-3940
EllisPickett@comcast.net
Pamela Walters, Secretary
Media/Press/Speakers Bureau, Ellis Pickett
Galveston Ornithological Society
Purpose: This Ornithological Society is a group of friends of all ages in Galveston County, Texas, who share a love for learning about birds.
Programs: They have meetings and classes and birding trips like the Water Bird Workshop or Shorebird Seminar. Members have day and overnight field trips to observe birds in their natural setting. The Society offers several trips away from Galveston during each year. Participants have gone to far away bird hot spots such as Venezuela, Arizona, South Texas, Florida, Alaska, the Yucatan, the Galapagos and many other locations. Additional trips planned for the future include Africa, Tierra del Fuego and Cape May.
Membership: It’s easy to join the Galveston Ornithological Society and it’s free. Just email Jim and you can also receive his bird pictures and commentary.
Publications: Galveston Bay’s first nature newspaper, “GULLS n HERONS”, is the inspiration of The Galveston Ornithological Society. Informative and instructive articles on nature, such as bird watching, reptiles, fishing, etc., are included in all issues, and it includes color pictures of Gulf Coast birds and other creatures.
Jim Stevenson, Executive Director
Citizens’ Environmental Coalition
Purpose: CEC works to connect our environmental community. Our mission is to foster education, dialogue, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston/Gulf Coast region.
Major Events: Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour (winter), Greater Houston Environmental Summit (early spring)
Volunteer Opportunities: Writing, research, clerical, special events, graphic desing, website assistance, tabling, IT consulting. Public relations, attorneys, accountants, and fundraising experts for board and committees.
Publications:
Annual Environmental Resource Guide
Environmental News Update, a free weekly environmental e-mail newsletter. Please visit cechouston.org to sign up.
Our website, cechouston.org, features a compilation of news headlines, green job postings, a comprehensive calendar of local environmental events of interest to our member groups, and archives of our weekly newsletters.
Information & Referral: CEC serves as a call and email service center to help direct environmental inquiries to appropriate organizations and agencies.
Paige Powell, Interim Executive Director
paige.powell@cechouston.org
Steve Stelzer, President
president@cechouston.org
Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council
Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council’s (GINTC) mission is to connect people with Galveston’s natural environment.
Purpose:Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council is a non-profit, community-based volunteer organization that supports and develops nature-based educational and recreational activities, and promotes the value of area natural habitats and resources.
Interest in nature tourism is on the rise. The Council invites you to explore its website, http://www.GalvestonNatureTourism.org, to learn about programs and projects for the environmentally rich Galveston Island and its surrounding areas. The Council has enjoyed great success with its unique nature events, community education and outreach programs, and anticipated growth in these and other endeavors.
Programs: Galveston Sea Turtle Saturday, Featherfest Birding & Nature Photography Festival, and Holiday with the Cranes.
Volunteer Opportunities: To volunteer, please contact Julie Ann Brown at (409) 789-8125 or email info@gintc.org. The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council could not succeed in its mission without its dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. The Council relies on volunteers to help with its events, assist in the office, help conduct research, and much more. Whether you are an individual, an organization, or a corporate or school group, we have the perfect volunteer opportunity for you!
Kathy Carlson, President
Julie Ann Brown, Executive Director
Sierra Club – Hou. Regional Group
Purpose: To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
Meetings: Second Thurs., 7:30 p.m., St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1805 West Alabama at Woodhead. OPEN TO PUBLIC.
Major Events: Trips, workshops, outings, and classes; Yard Sale, spring; Annual Auction, at December meeting.
Recreational Outings: Open to members and non-members. See listing on website.
Children’s Activities: Inner City Outings program. Contact Lorraine Gibson at raineygib@aol.com.
Volunteer Opportunities: Issues include water & air quality, watershed, sustainability, energy, forestry, and parks & wildlife; Political Committee endorsements; legislative issues and letter writing; trail maintenance on Lone Star Hiking Trail; training for leading outings.
Publications: Bayou Banner, monthly (call for free copy or print PDF version from website).
Brandt Mannchen, Executive Committee Chair
brandtshnfbt@juno.com
Evelyn L. Merz, Conservation Chair
elmerz@hal-pc.org
Carol Woronow, Bayou Banner and Newsletter Editor,
HSCBanner@gmail.com
Melanie Oldham, Air Quality
oldham_melanie@yahoo.com
Brandt Mannchen, Forestry and Big Thicket
brandtshnfbt@juno.com
Environmental Institute of Hou – UHCL
Since 1991, the mission of the Environmental Institute of Houston at University of Houston-Clear Lake has been to advance understanding of the environment through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach.
Purpose: It serves as a contact point for the community to access the expertise and resources of the university. Additionally, EIH partners with agencies, community and environmental groups, and businesses to conduct research and outreach projects in the Houston region. EIH focuses on four areas: pollution prevention, environmental policy, natural resource conservation, and environmental education.
Dr. George Guillen, Executive Director
(281) 283-3950; guillen@uhcl.edu
Wendy Reistle, Environmental Education Program Coordinator
(281) 283-3045; reistle@uhcl.edu
Bayou City Waterkeeper
Purpose: To protect and restore the integrity of our bayous, rivers, streams, and the bays through advocacy, education, and action.
Bayou City Waterkeeper (formerly Galveston Baykeeper) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to ensure that every waterway is swimmable, fishable, and drinkable from Lake Livingston through the Bayous of Houston down to Galveston Bay. Bayou City Waterkeeper is a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global environmental movement which began in 1966 with the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association and grew to encompass waterways around the world.
Programs: Pollution Hotline, Wetland Watch, Save Our Gulf.
Volunteer Opportunities: We need citizens to report pollution and possible Clean Water Act violations. We also need administrative, fundraising and community event volunteers.
Publications: The Bay Times, an electronic newsletter.
Speakers Bureau: Pesticides 101, Where Have All the Wetlands Gone? and wetland education to municipalities. Contact website for booking a speaker for your classroom or student group.
Jordan Macha is the Executive Director and Waterkeeper
jordan @bayoucitywaterkeeper.org
Texans for Clean Water
Purpose: Texans for Clean Water is a coalition of business leaders and citizens who are committed to protecting the waterways. Through education, prevention and collaboration, we can eliminate floatable litter: including drink containers, polystyrene to-go containers and plastic bags, from Texas waterways. In doing so, we will generate economic prosperity and improve water quality for all Texans and Texas wildlife.
Programs: Speakers are available to talk about strategies to improve water quality by reducing, discarding, and appropriate alternatives to: plastic bags, polystyrene to go containers, and other AWAY FROM HOME packaging. Texans for Clean water also works to support municipal and statewide legislation to prevent land based litter from becoming marine debris.
Speakers:Contact-Mary Wood
Mary@texansforcleanwater.com
Volunteers Opportunities: Help to spread the message that litter is a problem in Texas. What’s your favorite tool to get the word out? Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter? Whatever it is, click here for our latest post on Facebook and relay it out to your audience.
Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition
Purpose: A coalition of municipal utility districts, homeowner associations and other community organizations functioning as a steward between the residents, local/state government, land developers and non-profits to work on planning and implementation of improved flood protection and environment preservation throughout the Cypress Creek watershed.
Meetings: Third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., at Lake Forest Utility District, 14223 Lakewood Forest Dr.
Programs: Flood Protection: Research, consultation, advocacy and education. Preservation: Greenway trails/ park development focused on preservation of floodplain lands. Reforestation projects. Speakers are available to give presentations to your class or student group upon request. Contact website for booking information.
Major Events: Annual meeting featuring guest speakers and forthcoming watershed plans. Sponsor scout reforestation and water quality projects.
Volunteer Opportunities: Both outdoors and indoors. Retired folks in high demand. Grant applications.
Richard D. Smith, President
12503 Ramona Drive
(281) 469-5161
Peter R. Smullen, Vice-President.
Healthy Gulf (formerly Gulf Restoration Network)
Purpose: The Gulf Restoration Network (GRN) is a network of environmental, social justice, and citizens’ groups and individuals committed to restoring the Gulf of Mexico to an ecologically and biologically sustainable condition. Within this vision, we see the mission of GRN as one of uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the resources of the Gulf Region for future generations.
Programs: Resolve to Restore Louisiana Wetlands, the Gulf Coast is ground zero for the impacts of Global Warming, Save Our Cypress campaign, Save the Bait – Protect Menhaden in the Gulf of Mexico, Natural Defenses – protect our coastal wetlands and barrier islands, Defend our Nature Coast – Florida, Species at Risk, BP Drilling Disaster.
Major Events: Gulf Gathering annual retreat.
Volunteer Opportunities: Internships.
Publications: Gulf Currents – quarterly newsletter blog: http://www.healthygulf.org/blog/
Cyn Sarthou, Executive Director
(504) 525-1528 ext. 202
cyn@healthygulf.org
Ariadne Acevedo, Director of Membership and Community Fundraising
(504) 525-1528 ext. 210
ari@healthygulf.org
Raleigh Hoke, Campaign Director
(504) 525-1528 ext. 204
raleigh@healthygulf.org
Andrew Whitehurst, Water Program Director
504-525-1528 ext. 205
andrew@healthygulf.org
Environmental Defense Fund
Purpose: To preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. Environmental Defense Fund is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including the right to clean air, clean water, healthy food and flourishing ecosystems. Guided by science and economics, we find practical and lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems.
We work to solve the most critical environmental problems facing the planet. This has drawn us to areas that span the biosphere: climate, oceans, ecosystems and health. Since these topics are intertwined, our solutions take a multidisciplinary approach. We work in concert with other organizations — as well as with business, government and communities — and avoid duplicating work already being done effectively by others.
Programs: Texas Regional Office
Climate and Air
Oceans
Land, Water & Wildlife.
Volunteer Opportunities: Case by case basis.
Speaker’s Bureau: Contact Elena Craft.
Elena Craft, Senior Health Scientist
ecraft@edf.org
Stacy Brick, Media Contact
(512) 691-3454
Email Stacy
Scenic Galveston
Purpose: A volunteer membership service organization dedicated to creating land trusts of scenic habitat conservation preserves currently at 6,000 acres. Includes permanent protection and restoration of the 1,058-acre John M. O’Quinn I-45 Scenic Estuarial Corridor, the natural marsh gateway to Galveston; the contiguous 1,840 acres of native coastal prairie and wetland habitat on the Virginia Point Peninsula Preserve, and 3,000+ acres as stewards of conservation easement prairies/wetlands on north West Galveston Bay. SG provides archeological protection of National Register Pending 1860 Fort Hebert, the naval origination of the “Battle of Galveston” and 6 other important historical sites on VPPP.
Major Events: Partnership cleaning events, April and September, with GLO in Adopt-A-Beach/Estuary and Rivers, Bays N’ Bayous March Trash Bash, along with volunteer day maintenance, coastal erosion projects, prairie and Galveston Bay shoreline plantings, controlled burns, herbiciding, oyster work, participating in bird surveys, including Great Texas Bird Classic, Christmas Bird Count, with other outings and registration at Reitan Point in the preserve.
Birders, fishers, paddlers, kayakers, researchers, and other visitors are welcome every day for non-intrusive public uses. Vehicles, hunting, dumping and fireworks are not permitted.
Evangeline Loessin Whorton, Founder and Chairman
Networking Guild – “Friends of the Preserve” Site partner GCBO
Native Prairies Association of Texas
Purpose: The Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) is a non-profit membership organization and land trust dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of native prairies, savannas, and other grasslands in Texas. NPAT protects over 2000 acres of native Texas grassland, including over 100 acres of endangered/threatened tallgrass prairie. In 2010, NPAT started its first local chapter in Houston to allow members in the metro area to meet and discuss local and regional projects and raise awareness for the organization in the Texas Gulf Coast region.
Programs: Presentations for landowners about land conservation methods in Texas; Educational presentations and field trips designed for children and adults; land restoration education and support; development of regional land restoration guides; performed a 95 county survey locating remnant native prairies in Texas.
Publications: Quarterly newsletter, Texas Prairie News; periodic e-mail updates. Back issues are available at http://www.texasprairie.org.
Meeting Times: 4th Wednesday of each month except November and December; Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77074.
Lan Shen, President
NPAT Houston Chapter
http://prairiepartner.org/group/hnpat
HNPAT@texasprairie.org
Artist Boat
Purpose: Non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and preservation of coastal margins and the marine environment through the disciplines of the sciences and the arts.
Programs:
Eco-Art Adventures via kayak, vessel, or walking, and summer camps
Professional development & environmental stewardship programs, with special opportunities for oil and gas companies
Eco-Art Residencies in Schools integrating the arts and sciences to create public sculptures and habitats on campuses
Habitat Restoration Adventure Program, focused on stewardship-based learning through dune and coastal prairie preservation
Boy and Girl Scout badge classes
Classroom presentations and speakers that coincide with curriculum
Gulf ‘Coast Education Center: K-Grey can learn about the ecological, social, and economic value of coastal ecosystems.
Coastal Heritage Preserve – acquiring and preserving 506 acres of barrier island habitat on Galveston Island’s West Bay
Volunteer Opportunities: Public relations, lawyers, accountants, and fundraising experts for board; volunteers needed for after school residency program, board members, publications and press, activities at festivals.
Publications: E-mail newsletter; Website; Quarterly calendar of eco-art and eco-tour kayak adventures.
Karla Klay, Executive Director
kklay@artistboat.org
Galveston Bay Foundation
Purpose: To preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the Galveston Bay estuarine system and its tributaries for present users and for posterity. Galveston Bay Foundation’s balanced programs in advocacy, conservation, education, and research strive to ensure that Galveston Bay remains a beautiful and productive place for generations to come.
Programs: Educational presentations; community events; habitat restoration and conservation; trash cleanups; wetland permit review, responding to proposed actions in the bay area. Speakers are available for presentations to your classroom, contact for booking.
Major Events: Marsh Mania; Bay Day; Bike Around the Bay; GBF Luncheon; Trash Bash; Redfish Raft-Up, Rain Barrel Workshops.
Children’s Programs: Get Hip to Habitat; Bay Day; Bay Ambassadors; Children’s Art Calendar.
Volunteer Opportunities: The success of GBF can be directly attributed to the support we received from volunteers. Visit GBF’s website to find out more about our ongoing volunteer opportunities.
Publications: GBF Gazette, GBF E-News, Galveston Bay Drive & Discover Guide, Children’s Art Calendar.
Bob Stokes, President
(281) 332-3381 ex-211
bstokes@galvbay.org
Nicole Scanlin, Director of Development
(281) 332-3381 ex-213
nscanlin@galvbay.org
Casey Blair
Database and Administrative support
(832) 536-2275
cblair@galvbay.org
The CEC has a searchable, web-based version of the Environmental Resource Guide. You may also download older versions of the printed guide below.
Archived Resource Guides