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September 12, 2017

Houston Environmental News Update October 11, 2017

Scroll down to read notes from our member organizations and the community, or view the emailed version of the newsletter, which includes a green job listing.

Harvey has, inexorably, drawn our attention to our bayous and rivers. I have had the professional privilege of working for and with organizations that direct their efforts towards bayous, with the goals of reducing the risk of flood damage; improving water quality for people and wildlife; and enhancing quality of life. I would like to share two key lessons that I have learned while working with water professionals:

  1. If it were easy, it would be done already.
  2. As a community, the Houston region has learned from the challenges we have faced and has devised and implemented extraordinary solutions.

I have no doubt that Harvey will be the impetus for more transformation.

Lucky for us we have a vibrant community working on bayou-related issues, and they are hosting a variety of events and projects in the coming weeks. I’d like to highlight a few:

Bayou Preservation Association has a few notable events this month. Tomorrow night, October 12, 2017, they are hosting their annual gala, “Merriment on the Bayou.” The event helps fund the Association’s activities, including stream corridor protection, citizen science water quality, trash free bayous, and bayou appreciation. Next week, on October 19, they are hosting their annual symposium. The theme, Bayou Stewardship: From Awareness to Action, was planned before Hurricane Harvey struck the region and was originally to focus on how the citizens of the metropolitan Houston area have become more aware of our bayous and how that culture of awareness has led to enhanced efforts to link people to the bayous. This year’s symposium will continue to examine that relationship and feature a timely post-Harvey keynote conversation with Russ Poppe, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District, John Blount, P.E., Harris County Engineer, and Stephen Costello, City of Houston Chief Resilience Officer. The banner photo above highlights their Symposium.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council manages multiple water programs. I encourage you to review their monthly community and environmental newsletter to learn more. Upcoming events include:

These events are not the only water-related events coming up; check out our calendar for more opportunities. And, of course, these two groups are far from the only CEC member organizations looking at water-quality and water-quantity issues in the region.

We have tried to confirm the events listed below, but not all organizations have updated their websites. Please consider confirming directly with the hosts.

CEC NOTES

Houston Green Film Series: Plastic Paradise. October 18, 2017.
Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. And yet it’s become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. In this independent documentary film, journalist/filmmaker Angela Sun travels on a personal journey of discovery to uncover this mysterious phenomenon. Along the way she meets scientists, researchers, influencers, and volunteers who shed light on the effects of our rabid plastic consumption and learns the problem is more insidious than we could have ever imagined.

Panelists include:

Amanda Rinehart is the Education Program Manager at Artist Boat and leader of the Marine Debris Task Force. The Task Force (formed in the fall of 2015 in conjunction with US EPA’s Trash Free Waters Program) is a collaboration of stakeholders with a common goal to reduce trash on Galveston Island. Amanda lead the process of writing an Action Plan, which outlines the goals to reduce trash, a timeline to achieve these goals, and metrics to measure success. Over the past two years, the Task Force has implemented the first goal of the plan. Amanda lead this effort by generating $21,000 in grants and sponsorships to place seven recycle stations on the beach.

Mary Wood is the Director of Texans for Clean Water (and previously for the group’s predecessor, Plastic Pollution Texas), which works to bring the problem of floatable debris in our waterways to state and local officials.  The goal of Texans For Clean Water is to organize a statewide group of business leaders and local government jurisdictions through a common initiative. Earlier this year, the group released a report titled “The Cost of Litter and Illegal Dumping in Texas: A Study of Nine Cities Across the State,” examines annual cost data for prevention, education and outreach, abatement and enforcement efforts to address trash and debris littered or dumped in nine Texas cities.

Rice Media Center, 2030 University Blvd, near Stockton and University. Paid parking is available in the Moody Visitor Lot, the West Lot 2, Greenbriar Lot G, and the Central Campus Garage. (see map)
6:30 PM conversation, networking, and a light meal.
7:00 PM screening (57 min)
Panel discussion following the film.

Free to the public, though donations are kindly appreciated. More information is available on Facebook.

CEC soliciting film submissions
Please consider submitting a short film (under 7 minutes) for possible inclusion in CEC’s Greater Houston Environmental Film Contest on November 15, 2017. Winning entries will be shown at CEC’s showing of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour on January 24 & 25, 2018.

Support the environment through workplace giving! EarthShare of Texas
Does your employer offer workplace giving? Many companies and businesses that offer workplace giving have charitable campaigns underway. CEC–and several of its member organizations–participate in workplace giving through EarthShare of Texas. Contributions made through these campaigns make a huge difference to the CEC. THANK YOU if you already give!

Check the ESTX website to see if your employer participates. If you would like a speaker to come share information with your workplace or if your employer doesn’t participate, please contact Elizabeth Howley, Business Development Director, EarthShare of Texas: 713-533-8988 or elizabeth@earthshare-texas.org.

COALITION & COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Image result for 75th annual bulb and plant mart75th Annual Bulb and Plant Mart
    The Garden Club of Houston is pleased to announce its 75th Annual Bulb and Plant Mart, October 12-14, 2017, at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. The Mart will open Thursday, October 12th, 4:30 to 7:00 PM for Early Bird Shopping with a Party on the Patio featuring Live Music and Lite Bites (Admission $20). Nearby stores will be offering discounts to Bulb Mart shoppers. Sales continue Friday, October 13 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday, October 14 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
  2. USGBC Texas Building Energy Summit
    The 2017 USGBC Texas Building Energy Summit is an executive forum for building owners/managers, energy and sustainability managers, engineers, federal and state government officials, consultants and other stakeholders focused on energy reduction and smarter technology solutions for buildings. Attend this summit on Thursday, October 12, 2017, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Norris Conference Center in City Centre. Check out the agenda and get your tickets online at usgbctexas.org/event.
  3. Merriment on the Bayou with BPA
    King Richard (Andrassy) and Maid Mary (Shinn) art please’d to host the Bayou Preservation Association’s 2017 Gala – Merriment on the Bayou at their home in ye ole Sherwood Forest. The festivities shall taketh place on Thursday eve, the tenth month October 12, in the year 2017, at 603 West Friar Tuck Lane. Please joineth their band of merry people and get your tickets on the interwebs. If you’re interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Jennifer Cate at 713-206-5505 or via email at jennifer@cateproctor.com.
  4. Image result for 45th Annual BikeHouston Moonlight Ramble45th Annual BikeHouston Moonlight Ramble
    The BikeHouston Moonlight Ramble is Houston’s oldest charity bike ride and draws more than 2,000 cyclists, many of whom join us each year and add the latest commemorative Ramble t-shirt to their collection. Party it up before the ride on Saturday, October 14, 2017, at 8:00 PM for music, food and drinks, and last-minute bike tune-ups, and show off your wildest bike decorations and costumes. After the ride, the party continues with music, beer from Saint Arnold, snacks, and prizes for best illuminated bike, best costume, and more. Save a few bucks by getting your tickets online before October 13 or register at the door.
  5. Journey of the Universe Screening at the University of St. Thomas          You are invited to the Journey of the Universe Film Screening on Sunday, October 15th at 2:00 PM at the University of St. Thomas, located at 3800 Montrose Blvd Houston, TX 77006. This Emmy-award winning documentary narrates the 14 billion year story of the universe’s development in a single hour. The film tells this story in a way that is accessible to everyone: drawing on astronomy and physics to explain the emergence of galaxies and stars, geology and chemistry to understand the formation of Earth, biology and botany to trace life’s evolution, and anthropology and history to see the rise of humans.
  6. Recycle-Bowl
    The Keep Houston Beautiful: Recycle-Bowl is a free competition and benchmarking tool for K-12 school recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities. On August 1, schools may start to register for the 2017 competition, which aims to invigorate student participation in recycling via an exciting and engaging national K-12 competition. Recycling is one of the easiest and most effective actions ANYONE can do to protect natural resources, conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs. Recycling also provides materials that are made into new products. Want to ignite recycling in your school? Friendly competition is a proven way to motivate young people toward adopting sustainable behaviors. The competition starts October 16. To learn more or register your school, visit https://www.kab.org/recycle-bowl/
  7. Katherine Hayhoe Talking Climate: Why Fats are not Enough
    Katherine Hayhoe, Atmospheric Scientist and Director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University, will be talking about climate on Tuesday, October 17 at 4:00PM. Her presentation will be held in McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall at Rice University.
  8. Confronting Climate Change: What Can the U.S. ad Japan Contribute to Creating Sustainable Societies?
    Asia Society is proud to welcome you to their discourse, Confronting Climate Change: What Can the U.S. and Japan Contribute to Creating Sustainable Societies? on Wednesday, October 18th, beginning at 6:00 PM. Measures to deal with climate change are urgent matters that can only be resolved with international cooperation. In this session, experts from the United States and Japan discuss some of the lessons that have been learned from Asia’s experiences. Join Asia Society for a discussion on the environment and how two of the globe’s largest economies are working to create a more sustainable future. This event will taker place at 1370 Southmore Blvd Houston, Texas 77004. A reception will begin at 6:00 PM with the presentation following at 7:00 PM.
  9. Bayou Stewardship: From Awareness to Action
    The Bayou Preservation Association is proud to announce the 14th Annual Symposium,  Bayou Stewardship: From Awareness to Action, which will take place on October 19, 2017 at the United Way of Greater Houston beginning at 7:30 AM. The theme, Bayou Stewardship: From Awareness to Action, was planned before Hurricane Harvey struck the region and was originally to focus on how the citizens of the metropolitan Houston area have become more aware of our bayous and how that culture of awareness has led to enhanced efforts to link people to the bayous. Then Harvey came and dramatically changed how Houstonians think about the bayous and our relationship to them. This year’s symposium will continue to examine that relationship and feature a timely post-Harvey keynote conversation with Russ Poppe, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District, John Blount, P.E., Harris County Engineer, and Stephen Costello, City of Houston Chief Resilience Officer. Click here to purchase individual tickets or sponsorships. The event admission includes a coffee service during both a morning and afternoon break along with a catered lunch. The full address for the venue is listed below. United Way of Greater Houston (50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007).
  10. TAEP Environmental Challenges and Innovations Conference Gulf Coast 2017
    October 19, 2017 at the Hilton Westchase. This one-day event, hosted by the Texas Association of Environmental Professionals, will provide a local forum for environmental professionals in the industry, government agencies, and consulting service companies, as well as university students in the greater Houston area to share technical presentations with their peers. The event will run all day beginning with registration at 7:30 am and ending when the entertainment stops at the end of the evening. In between, we’ll have morning and afternoon snack breaks, a lunchtime keynote speaker, and evening social. More specific details regarding the conference schedule will be made available soon. Topics of presentations in the past have included: Water, Waste and Wastewater, Air, Soil and Sediment, Wetlands, Education and Outreach, Environmental Response to Natural Disasters, Groundwater, Risk Assessment, Sustainability, NEPA, Environmental Management Systems Resources, Auditing Process Safety and Risk Management Programs and more. Learn more at taep.org.
  11. Picnic for Cullinan Park
    Join Cullinan Park Conservancy for the first “Picnic For the Park” benefit. This event will take place on Friday, October 20, 2017, at 11:30 AM to1 PM at River Pointe Church, located at 5000 Ransom Road, Richmond, Texas 77469. The keynote speaker is renowned wildlife photographer, Dr. Angela McCain, who will share stories of her travels and samples of world famous photographs. Dee Koch will also attend to receive the Nina Cullinan Outstanding Citizen Award. Cullinan Park is a one of a kind, blue-green oasis in the middle of our rapidly growing suburbs, providing habitat for all manner of wildlife, while delivering a respite for human visitors, too. The Conservancy is committed to enhancing the natural beauty of the 754-acre Joseph S. and Lucie H. Cullinan Park for all. For more info or to reserve your sponsorship or ticket, contact Cullinan Park Conservancy Executive Director Angie Wierzbicki at cullinanparkconservancy@gmail.com or 281-616-7860.
  12. Fall Planning Workshop for Local Governments, a Houston-Galveston Area Council Event                                                                                                     Please join the Community and Environmental Planning department for our annual  Fall Planning Workshop for Local Governments as we discuss ideas as to how we can make implementation a reality in our communities. The event will take place on Friday, October 20, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This event will be held at the Houston- Galveston Area Council, located at  3555 Timmons Lane in the Second Floor Conference Rooms. If you have any questions or would like to be involved, please call Amanda Thorin, H-GAC, Community & Environmental Planning Department at 713-627-3200 or email amanda.thorin@h-gac.com.
  13. Image result for hreg logo2018 Houston Solar Tour Volunteer Committee Meeting
    If you’d like to volunteer and help organize the annual Houston Solar Tour, please plan to attend the first Solar Tour Committee Meeting on Friday October 20, 2017, for more information on how to get started. They are looking for 10 or more volunteers to help with different tasks leading up to the tour and will need folks stationed at each house during the tour. This is the biggest event of the year for the Houston Renewable Energy Group, so sign up to get involved.
  14. Image result for bike around the bayBike Around the Bay Benefiting the Galveston Bay Association, Sponsored by Shell
    Join the Galveston Bay Foundation for their 11th annual Bike Around the Bay, a two-day 170-mile fully supported ride around Galveston Bay. This unique cycling event takes riders in a complete loop around the largest estuary in Texas (and one of the biggest in North America)! All proceeds from this signature fundraising ride directly benefit GBF and its mission to preserve and protect the Bay. Register today to ride in Bike Around the Bay 2017 on Saturday-Sunday, October 21-22, 2017. If you can’t come out and bike, please consider making a generous donation to help them reach their goal!
  15. Energy Day
    Energy Day     is Houston’s largest FREE family festival showcasing exhibits focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Energy Day will feature exciting exhibits and interactive demonstrations that will teach students and their families about various forms of energy and how through STEM education, they can find an exciting career in the energy industry. With the support of our local schools and energy experts, it’s our hope that students and families who attend can learn something new and develop an interest in STEM education. This event will take place on Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 11 AM – 4 PM at Sam Houston Park.
  16. Nature Discovery Center Pumpkin Patch                                                        Come visit the Nature Discovery Center Pumpkin Patch Saturday & Sunday, October 21 & 22 from 11 am to 4 pm both days rain or shine! Our Pumpkin Patch fall festival will return to a transformed Russ Pitman Park this fall! Come enjoy our refreshed, updated park as your family picks out the perfect pumpkins for your porch, takes a horse drawn wagon ride, browses vendor stalls, bounces, spins, and climbs on our big attractions, and plays plenty of festival games. Don’t forget to stop by the food trucks for some scrumptious eats!
  17. NPSOT Native Landscape Certification Program
    Did you miss getting into a Level 1 or Level 3 NLCP class last Spring? Don’t wait any longer to get your place in the upcoming Fall 2017 Houston-area classes. Take Level 1 and learn the 5 ecoregions and 4 soil types for the Greater Houston Area. Learn about 45 natives that thrive here, including trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, grasses and ground covers. Take Level 3 next and learn about 45 more natives, how to install and take care of your plants with a maintenance schedule for all 90 natives. The level 1 class will be held on Oct. 14, 2017, and Level 3 on Nov. 4, 2017. Learn more at npsot.org.
  18. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 p.m. each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Texas City, Galveston, 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.
    • The Business of Burning: Prescribed fires by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are carefully planned events conducted by a specially trained and skilled crew. From the burn boss to the grunt and the engine to the drip torch, see what and who it takes to safely put on a prescribed fire.
    • Intro to Geocaching: Looking to get out and explore Texas? Try geocaching, a modern-day treasure hunt played by millions of fans around the world. Learn how to get in on the game. We’ll show you what you need to get started.
  19. Additional Upcoming Events

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