Houston Environmental News Update August 11, 2015

We love it when environmental stories make the front page of the Houston Chronicle, and today’s front page highlights one of our most valuable local resources: Galveston Bay. Reporter Harvey Rice shares information about the first ever report card on Galveston Bay. The report card, released by HARC and the Galveston Bay Foundation, gives the Bay an average grade of C, with other grades for various aspects of the Bay’s status, such as water quality, human health, pollution, wildlife and habitat, and coastal change. Even better? The editorial section of the Chronicle includes an Outlook article by Bob Stokes of the Galveston Bay Foundation and Lisa Gonzalez of HARC. “We must work harder to protect Galveston Bay,” they write.

Speaking of Galveston Bay, mark your calendars for the 10th State of the Bay Symposium, scheduled for January 13-14, 2016, and check out backthebay.org.

CEC NOTES

1. New Subscribers
   

   Thank you to our new subscribers: Carol, Merve, Gail, Margaret, Nikhil, Kelly, Truny, Karla, Brock, Debby, Heather, and Lisa. We hope you enjoy our emails. Please consider liking us on facebook.

2. CEC Events–Save the Dates
   • September 3, 2015: Environmental Forum for Contested At-Large City of Houston Council races. Please contact rachel@cechouston.org if you would like to be a planning or promotional partner for the event.
   • November 17, 2015: CEC holiday open house
   • January 28, 2016: Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour
   • March 24, 2016: CEC’s Greater Houston Environmental Summit
3. City of Houston Electoral Forums–save the dates
   

   City of Houston is holding elections for a new mayor and for several city council positions. You may have seen our save the date notice for the environmental forum that CEC is hosting with several partners on September 3, 2015, for at-large council positions. (More info to follow!)

   CEC is not the only one hosting a forum related to environmental issues. Here’s a rundown of other forums of which we know being hosted by CEC member organizations–more details to follow:

   • Brays Bayou Association -  Mayoral Forum - Monday, August 17, 2015, at 7:30 pm at Lovett Elementary, 8814 South Rice Ave. (not at the Gathering Place as previously reported)
   • Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Citizens’ Transportation Coalition, and Sierra Club – Houston Group –Mayoral Candidate Panel Discussion – September 17, 2015, at 7:00 pm at Trini Mendenhall Sosa Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road
   • Blueprint Houston – Mayoral Forum - Saturday, September 26, 2015, 9:00 AM at the Houston Community College Central Campus Auditorium. Cosponsored by AARP, American Institute of Architects, American Institute of Landscape Architects Houston Chapter, American Planning Association Houston Section, Bike Houston, CEC, Citizens’ Transportation Coalition, Complete Streets Coalition, Houston Tomorrow, League of Women Voters, and the Superneighborhood Alliance.
   • About 15 Organizations – Mayoral Forum - Thursday October 1, 2015, in the evening at Hermann Park Garden Center
   • League of Women Voters – Mayoral Debate – October 16, 2015

   A few other events are being considered; we’ll keep you posted.

COALITION NOTES

1. Public Comment Period and Public Meeting: Funding for Transportation Projects. H-GAC is announcing the opening of a public comment period for candidate transportation projects for state and/or federal funding assistance. The public comment period began on July 27, 2015,, and will end on August 25, 2015, at 5pm. A public meeting will be held on  August 11, 2015, from 5:30–7:00pm at the H‑GAC offices. The public is encouraged to attend and provide comments to H‑GAC. All written comments may be submitted to Transportation Public Information, Houston-Galveston Area Council, P.O. Box 22777, Houston, TX 77227-2777, emailed to publiccomments@h-gac.com, or faxed to (713) 993-4508. For more information, please visit www.h-gac.com. Comments received during the public comment period will be provided to the Transportation Policy Council for its consideration.
2. 2016 Terry Hershey Texas Women in Conservation Award Nominations. Audubon’s Texas Women in Conservation Program recognizes outstanding women leaders in today’s conservation movement throughout the Lone Star State, supports opportunities in Texas for girls and women to become more involved in conservation and environmental sciences, and engages women on important issues related to conservation in Texas. Audubon Texas and the Terry Hershey Award Program Steering Committee are seeking nominations of women conservationists who have shown leadership, innovation and passion for the landscapes and wildlife of the Lone Star State. Nominations are accepted from an individual or organization that complete and submit the nomination application by the deadline of Friday, August 14, 2015. Learn more and find the nomination form at http://texaswomeninconservation.org.
3. Groundbreaking Ceremony: Phase Two of the Gateway Project. The Nature Discovery Center invites the public to the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase Two of the organization’s capital initiative, the Gateway Project. The event will be held on August 15, 2015, at 9:30am in the pavilion area behind the Center. Phase Two upgrades include a new outdoor learning space, enlarged animal enclosures, directional park signage, new outdoor restroom with handwashing station, enhanced native landscaping, and a remodeled pavilion area. The upgrades will help the Center better serve the thousands of school children who visit the center each year as well as park visitors. Read more at www.bellaireconnect.com.
4. UH Whole Foods Market Community Day. On August 20, 2015, visitors to the Whole Foods Market Post Oak (1700 Post Oak Blvd.) location can get a lesson in making their own natural exfoliate hand scrub and pesto while also helping out the University of Houston. As part of Whole Food Market’s commitment to the community, a portion of the sales that day will benefit the Campus Community Garden and Shasta’s Culinary Workshop. Representatives from the University of Houston will be present throughout the day to engage with visitors. The Office of Sustainability, which manages the campus garden, will be hosting an “Herbs to Heal: Make Your Own Scrubs” demonstration from 9:30-10:30am. The UH Department of Health and Human Performance will be represented by nutrition students from its Shasta’s Culinary Workshop who will host an “Herbs to Eat: Make Your Own Pesto” demonstration from 3:30-4:30pm. Learn more at http://uh.edu and RSVP at www.facebook.com.
5. Oiled Wildlife Response Workshops. The Wildlife Center of Texas will be providing two oiled wildlife response training workshops right here in Houston! The workshops are identical in content but offered on two different dates. The first will be sponsored by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation on August 21, 2015, from 9am until 4pm. The second will be sponsored by the Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response Division on August 22, 2015, from 9am until 4pm. Clean Gulf Associates will be providing the Oiled Wildlife Response Trailer for washing. Both workshops will take place onsite at The Wildlife Center of Texas. These workshops fill up quickly so sign up as soon as possible! There is limited seating! The purpose of the workshop is to certify and train personnel that are interested in assisting The Wildlife Center of Texas Oiled Wildlife Response Team during a spill. Certification and training are required for anyone who may participate in any role during an oiled wildlife response. The workshop will cover topics such as the effects of oil on wildlife, initial intake and exam of oiled wildlife, an introduction to OSHA training, wildlife rehabilitation’s role in Incident Command System, and actual hands on cleaning of oiled feathers in which participants will practice by washing an unoiled white duck. Please register via email at WildlifeResponse@wildlifecenteroftexas.org.
6. Bats on the Bayou. The Houston Parks Board (HPB), in partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), presents “Bats on the Bayou,” a free event to introduce families to the bat colony living under Watonga Boulevard Bridge and highlight this special feature along White Oak Bayou Greenway. Attendees will learn about bats from the experts, enjoy bat-themed activities and watch the bats emerge for their evening hunt. Ecologist Cullen “Batgirl” Geiselman, Ph.D., an HPB board member; Jed Aplaca, HPARD Natural Resources Manager; and representatives from TPWD and the Houston Area “Bat Team” will share their knowledge about the Mexican free-tailed bat. The Watonga Parkway bat colony along White Oak Bayou Greenway is just one of the many special places being made more accessible through Bayou Greenways 2020, a project that will create a system of 150 miles of parks and hike and bike trails along Houston’s major waterways. Bats on the Bayou will be held on August 28, 2015, 6:30-9pm. Learn more and RSVP at www.houstonparksboard.org.
7. Introduction to Bird Identification. Are you interested in learning more about the birds that live around us? Armand Bayou Nature Center is holding two introductory bird classes from 1-4pm on August 30, 2015, and September 13, 2015. The classroom session will introduce the concept of bird watching as a hobby including equipment required, reference guides and key points for identification. Class will be followed by a 90 minute walk through all three of the ecosystems at Armand Bayou Nature Center will follow to see how many birds we can spot and identify. Field guides and binoculars will be available for the use of the group. The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors over 60 and chilren ages 10-12. This includes daily admission. Reservation is required, call 281-474-2551 x 10 to save your place. Bird Identificationflyer
8. Going Green Sustainability Lecture: Scientific Thinking on Climate Change. The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. is sponsoring the latest Going Green Sustainability Lecture titled Scientific Thinking on Climate Change to be held at the The Woodlands South Regional Library on September 8, 2015, at 7pm. Larry Kremer will discuss some of the science behind climate change including ocean acidification, sea level rise, arctic melting, and temperature rise. He will also briefly discuss a method to address climate change developed by the Citizens Climate Lobby. This method is a market-based approach to reduce greenhouse gasses by putting a cost on fossil fuel through a revenue neutral Fee and Dividend approach. Learn more at www.thewoodlandsgreen.org. This event is free and open to the public and is not sponsored or endorsed by Montgomery County Memorial Library System.
9. Neches River Rally. The Big Thicket Association will host the 2nd Annual Neches River Rally on September 12, 2-15, at the LNVA Saltwater Barrier boat launch on Bigner Road in Beaumont, Texas. Entry fees start at $35 for single paddlers and include lunch, official event T-shirt, goodies and local entertainment. This canoe and kayak rally takes paddlers on one of the most popular paddling trails in Southeast Texas – The Cooks Lake to Scatterman trail is designated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as an Official Texas Paddling Trail. It follows Pine Island Bayou, Cooks Lake, Scatterman Lake, and the Neches River. The trail features the famous Madonna Tree with a paddle through a cypress-tupelo forest in the Big Thicket National Preserve. The Neches River Rally, a family friendly event. Entry fees and sponsorships help support the Big Thicket Association’s mission of promoting conservation, environmental education classes, and scientific research in the Big Thicket National Preserve. www.bigthicket.org
10. Buffalo Bayou: Houston’s Past, Present and Future. Have you ever wondered why the fourth largest city in the United States was founded on swampland 50 miles inland in a hot, humid, flood-prone region? It all goes back to Buffalo Bayou, a natural waterway wending 75 miles from the Katy Prairie to the San Jacinto River. This six-week course will explore the Buffalo Bayou’s pivotal role in shaping Houston’s past, present and future and will illuminate the ebbs and flows of Houstonians’ relationship with the bayou. From the Allen Brothers’ 1836 landing to the development of the shipping industry and neighborhoods along its shores, to today’s renewed appreciation of the bayou’s influence on quality of life, the bayou was, is and will always be “the backbone of Houston.” The class will meet on six Mondays from 7-8:30pm, from September 28 to November 2, 2015. Registration before September 14 is $170, and $180 after. The cost for Rice alumni is $162. Learn more and register at http://glasscock.rice.edu.
11. Public Comment – Cedar Bayou Draft Watershed Protection Plan. The Draft Watershed Protection Plan evaluates the water quality issues present in the bayou, identifies causes and sources of pollution, recommends voluntary solutions, and describes the way these solutions will be implemented and assessed over the next 10 years. It was developed by local stakeholders of the Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership, who include representatives from local government, community groups, industry, commercial interests, agricultural producers, and interested residents, among others. It incorporates sound science and local decision-making to identify effective, voluntary solutions to the water quality challenges facing Cedar Bayou. Take a moment to read and comment on the Draft Cedar Bayou Watershed Protection Plan. Comments or questions can be submitted to Justin Bower at 713-499-6653 or justin.bower@gmail.com. They can also be mailed to Justin Bower, Houston-Galveston Area Council, PO Box 22777, Houston, TX 77227-2777. The comment period ends on September 5, 2015.
12. Texas Coastal Watershed Program Website. The Texas Coastal Watershed Program has just announced the launch of their new website: http://valuewetlands.tamu.edu. The website serves as a clearinghouse of programs that provide payments (either direct payment or financial assistance), technical services, tax deductions, low-interest loans, and regulatory assurances for conservation with an emphasis on wetland conservation. It is particularly applicable to private landowners (non-Federal and non-State property holders) on the upper Texas Coast. The mission of this website is to provide landowners with easily accessible information and program links on ways they can economically benefit by choosing sustainable land management. More at http://valuewetlands.tamu.edu.
13. Galveston Bay Foundation – Second Place Gulf Guardian Award. The Galveston Bay Foundation recently received a Second Place 2015 Gulf Guardian Award in the Civic/Non Profit Category. “Founded in 1987 by citizens concerned about the impact of several large projects on Galveston Bay, GBF is a nonprofit organization on the upper Texas coast with the mission to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of Galveston Bay for present users and for posterity. Through 28 years of service, GBF’s strength has been its ability to balance diverse interests to address issues and concerns related to Galveston Bay… GBF has noted many accomplishments in 2014, such as managing the first implementation of the national Incident Command System’s Volunteer Coordination Work Plan during the Texas City Oil Spill. This earned the organization a Certificate of Merit from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard. GBF served as a prime source for spill-related news, by educating boaters about the dangers of dumping wastes into the bay, as well as continued efforts to inform the public about the San Jacinto Waste Pits Superfund Site process and the bay’s seafood consumption advisories. In addition, recently GBF debuted the Galveston Bay Action Network, an application allowing the public to map pollution concerns/sightings and directly report them to enforcement agencies.” Read more at http://yosemite.epa.gov.
14. Village Green Project. The Village Green Project is a community-based activity to demonstrate the capabilities of new real-time monitoring technology for residents and citizen scientists to learn about local air quality. The goal of the project is to provide the public and communities with information previously not available about their local air quality and engage communities in air pollution awareness. The monitoring technology is built into a park bench made from recycled materials and includes sophisticated instruments to measure two common air pollutants — fine particle pollution called PM2.5 and ozone – and meteorological conditions such as wind speed, temperature, and humidity. Weather conditions are important for understanding air quality. These projects can be found in numerous cities throughout the country, but not in Houston. However, Air Alliance Houston is trying to change that. There is currently a GoFundMe page where supporters can back the project. You can donate at www.gofundme.com. Learn more at www.houstoniamag.com.

COMMUNITY NOTES

• Community Outdoor Outreach Program and Workshop. Recreation Grants will be accepting applications for the Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP). Tax-exempt organizations and local governments are eligible to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 up to $50,000 to fund programs meeting the Texas Parks and Wildlife mission. $1.5 million will be available to applicants introducing non-traditional constituents to TPWD related outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education programs. Applications will be accepted through the online portal called Recreation Grants Online https://tpwrecgrants.fluidreview.com. The deadline for the grant is February 1, 2016. There will be a grant writing workshop held from 9am-noon on August 18, 2015, at TPWD Region 4 Headquarters (14200 Garrett Rd). Information about the grant can be found at http://tpwd.texas.gov.
• Community ReLeaf RFP. This RFP is designed to select at least three new cities or metro areas to become new Community ReLeaf projects. In each selected community, American Forests’ staff works closely with nonprofit and municipal partners to address needs and help advance sustainable urban forest management and green infrastructure investment through a 3-phase process that includes a scientific analysis, catalytic tree canopy restoration project and public engagement / policy support. For each city, an average of $100,000 is provided in financial and technical support, with a goal of attracting additional resources. This proposal is your opportunity to tell the story of your urban forest needs and capacities, whether you have an advanced operation or are just trying to get started, and to help us understand the goals you wish to achieve through Community ReLeaf. Submit your application by 8pm US Central Time on August 21, 2015. If you have any questions, feel free to email Ian Leahy, Director of Urban Forest Programs, at ileahy@americanforests.org. Find the application at www.americanforests.org.
• 73rd Annual Bulb & Plant Mart. One of the largest and oldest horticultural events in Texas, the 73rd annual Bulb & Plant Mart, sponsored by the Garden Club of Houston, (GCH) will be held October 1-3, 2015, at St. John the Divine Church (2450 River Oaks Blvd). More than 500,000 top-quality bulbs from domestic and international suppliers from Amaryllis to Zantedeschia (Calla Lily) will be available at the Mart. Experienced as well as beginning gardeners will find an expanded collection of hard-to-find and unusual Crinums, Daylilies, Gingers, perennials, trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and citrus plants, including unique offerings from the gardens of GCH members, grown specifically for the Mart. Visitors to the Bulb & Plant Mart will receive a Horticultural Guide for Houston, prepared by the Club. The booklet includes the botanical names and descriptions of the items for sale, information on planting and caring for plants, as well as a planting calendar for bulbs. Over 100 different bulb varieties can be pre-ordered before the Mart. All Pre-Orders will qualify for GCH’s sales tax exemption; minimum order is $30.00 and all orders save 10%. Orders must be received by September 1st. Learn more at www.gchouston.org.
• Grant Applications for Clean Water Act Projects. The TCEQ and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Exit the TCEQ administer federal grants for activities that prevent or reduce nonpoint source pollution. The TCEQ has released its Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) for Fiscal Year 2016 nonpoint source projects under the Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Grant Program. Applications will be accepted until September 4, 2015 (3pm CT). To access the grant application, visit the Electronic State Business Daily website. At the web site, in the “Browse Postings” section, in the line for “Agency Requisition Number,” enter 582-15-55292 and click “GO” to access this RFGA. The RFGA page contains links for “Package 1,” the RFGA instructions, ranking criteria, timetable, and other important information for applying, and “Package 2,” the application form in Word format. Learn more at www.tceq.texas.gov.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Texas Pest Seminar. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will be hosting a free Texas Pest Seminar on September 10, 2015, 8am-2pm at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office (3033 Bear Creek Drive). The featured speakers are Allen Smith, Matt Weaver, Marianne Waindle, and Emmett Muennink. Topics include: Emerald Ash Borer and the Texas Action Plan, Bacterial Diseases of Trees, Trunk Injection Demonstration, Piercing/Sucking Insects, and more. Lunch is provided. RSVP by September 4th to emuennink@arborjet.com. HoustonWorkshop2015
• Gulf of Mexico Program Cooperative Agreements 2015. The EPA is now accepting applications for grants for projects that address water quality improvement; coastal habitat and ecosystems enhancement, restoration and/or protection; environmental education and outreach; and strengthen community resilience in the Gulf of Mexico region and its watersheds. The deadline for applications is September 15, 2015. Learn more at www.grants.gov.
• TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.
  • Pronghorn CSI
  • Lake Tawakoni State Park
  • Frog People
  • A Not-So-Easy Rider
• Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
  • August 12, 2015: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone. Winds may be light enough for ozone levels to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” in the Houston area.
  • August 13, 2015: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone. Winds may be light enough for ozone levels to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” in the Houston area.
  • August 14, 2015: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone. Winds may be light enough for ozone levels to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” in the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
  • August 15, 2015: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone. Winds may be light enough for ozone levels to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” in the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

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