Houston Environmental News Update August 13, 2013
Houston Environmental News Update August 13, 2013
- Contribute to the News!
- Is it the End for Deer Park Prairie?
- Public Meeting to Discuss Main Street Enhancements
- Houston Audubon Bird Survey
- Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership
- EaDo Pubcrawl to benefit Air Alliance Houston
- Wildlife Workday on the Strand
- Jones Park Fabulous Nighttime Flyers: Bats
- Armand Bayou Owl Prowl and Night Hike
- Bay Area Sierra Club Meeting Date Change
- RDA Civic Forums: Environmental Challenges Facing the Houston Region Over the Next 25 Years
- Texas Gulf Coast Gardener Classes Return
- Explore in a Kayak with Artist Boat
- Bayou Greenways Snap and Share
- Support CEC Member Groups at OKRA Charity Saloon
- Oiled Wildlife Response Training Workshop
- GBF Earns Land Trust Accreditation
- Apply for Mayor’s Proud partners Award
- Applications sought for Annual Parks Awards
- Save the Date: Bayou Preservation Association’s 10th Annual Symposium
COMMUNITY NOTES  1. 2013 ArCH Film Festival: Boom and Bust
2. Houston Urban Food Production Conference
3. TCEQ to consider surface water quality standards
4. Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Annual Public Hearing
5. Workshop on the Ecological Importance of Streamside Areas
6. Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to Vote on Clean-up Plan
7. TCEQ accepting nominations for 2014 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards
8. SSPEED Center Conference: Hurricane Ike 5 Years Later
9. Urban Photography Contest
10. 2013 National Reuse Contest
11. Field Trip Grants
12. Mesolothemia resources
13. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
14. Air Quality Forecast
- Whooping Crane Case Could Affect State Water Supplies (Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune – KUHF News, 8/11/2013)
- High water everywhere: Scientists map the risks of rising seas for Texas (Texas Climate News, 8/6/2013)
- Battle looms over expanding shipments of coal in Houston (Matthew Tresaugue – Fuel Fix, 8/5/2013)
1. NEW! Buffalo Bayou Partnership seeks Park Wide Supervisor
2. NEW! The Woods Project seeks Club Program Instructors
3. NEW! Air Alliance Houston seeks Teaching Artist
4. National Wildlife Federation seeks Regional Development Manager (Austin)
5. Texas Living Waters seeks Attorney (Austin)
6. Harris County Flood Control District seeks Field Technician
7. Recipe for Success seeks Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Educator
8. H-GAC seeks Senior Air Quality Planner
9. H-GAC seeks Air Quality Coordinator
10. Uptown Houston seeks Project Manager for Memorial Park
11. Memorial Park Conservancy seeks Conservation Director
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS
Contribute to the News! Do you know of something great going on? News? Events? Accomplishments? Jobs? Let us know! Send submittals to news@cechouston.org. If possible, send information by Friday for inclusion the following Tuesday. We especially like short paragraphs, catchy titles, third person, and links to more information, but we will work with whatever you send us. Calendar items can be submitted up to two years in advance. We are always looking for volunteers to help keep our calendar up to date.
- Is it the End for Deer Park Prairie? Bayou Land Conservancy has been
working on raising funds to purchase the Deer Park Prairie, a 50-acre
home to meadowlarks, pocket gophers, and more than 300 species of
unique plants – tucked between subdivisions and just 3 miles south from
the Deer Park refineries. BLC received bad news this week: the
corporate entity most likely to have supported this biodiversity
initiative is unable to meet the new deadline for the required funds,
which has now been moved up to Aug.
20, 2013. Local partners including Texas Native Prairie
Association, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Native Plant Society, and
Houston Audubon are making huge efforts to save the Deer Park Prairie.
And finally, while small donations are greatly appreciated, because of
this incredibly short-fuse final deadline, Bayou Land Conservancy is
seeking large donations these next few days. If YOU could be a large
donor, know someone who COULD be a large donor, please call right away
at 281-576-1634 or email info@bayouland.org. Please watch a 3-minute
video of the unique nature of this prairie and the educational amenity it could be
for not just Houstonians but all Texans. Â http://www.bayoulandconservancy.org/#!news-and-events/cekb - Public Meeting to Discuss Main Street Enhancements. Learn about
new projects Tuesday, August 13, 6-8 p.m. The South Main Alliance and
Main Street Coalition will present a program to discuss the plans for
pedestrian-friendly improvements in the Museum District and TMC areas.
Houston City Council Member Wanda Adams and the Museum of Fine Arts,
Houston, will host the meeting at the museum’s American General
Conference room. Hermann Park’s Grand Gateway renovation will be one of
the topics discussed. For more info, visit the Hermann Park
Conservancy website. - Houston Audubon Bird Survey. Baytown Nature
Center hosts the Houston Audubon Bird Survey on the 3rd Thursday of
each month led by Stennie Meadours and David Hanson. The next survey
will take place on August 15, 2013, from 8-9am. All levels welcome. http://cechouston.org/ - Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership. Thursday, August 15, 2013
5:30-7:30 Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center 1724 Market Street Baytown, TX www.CedarBayouWatershed.com - EaDo Pubcrawl to benefit Air Alliance Houston.
This year’s pub crawl weekend will be Aug 16/17. Partners this year
include EaDo Houston – The Art & Soul of the City, Intero Real
Estate Services Houston, Air Alliance Houston, 8th Wonder Brewery,
Houston Dynamo. Learn more at www.eadopubcrawl.com. - Wildlife Workday on the Strand. Join Galveston
Bay Foundation for a “Wildlife Workday†event on August 17, 2013 from
9am–12pm on The Strand in Galveston, which features GBF’s Storm Drain
Stewards program! At this event, volunteers will get an introduction to
water quality and pollution concerns in Galveston Bay, as well as
things they can do at home to help keep our bay fishable and swimmable.
Volunteers will spend the rest of the morning installing storm drain
markers throughout historic Galveston that can help educate others that
stormwater flows directly to Galveston Bay without being treated. This
event is free, but you must pre-register with Emily Ford at
eford@galvbay.org and she will send you the final details. Space is
limited. http://cechouston.org/ - Jones Park Fabulous Nighttime Flyers: Bats.
Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center will be holding a free class on
bats on August 17, 2013, at 10am. The necessary role bats play in the
balance of life, including mosquito control and pollination, is
presented for all ages. Learn about the kinds of bats found in Harris
County, safety concerns, and discover the amazing feats of these
nighttime sentinels! http://cechouston.org/ - Armand Bayou Owl Prowl and Night Hike. Join
Armand Bayou Nature Center on a beautiful walk through the woods to
look for owls and listen to the fascinating sounds of the night. Don’t
forget your walking shoes and flashlight! Ages 6 – adult. This event
takes place every 3rd Saturday of the month. The next Owl Prowl and
Night Hike will be held on August 17, 2013, from 7-9pm. The cost is
$8.00. Advanced reservations are required: call 281 474-2551, ext 10. http://cechouston.org/ - Bay Area Sierra Club Meeting Date Change. This month our meeting date has changed to MONDAY, August 19 (instead of typical 3rd Wednesday night). Our program is a Port of Houston photo essay by Lou Vest, who also happens to be a pilot on the Port. This is not an evironmental program per se, it’s is an
informative program. Introducing the busiest port in the US 6:30
social, 7-8:30 pm meeting Location: Bay Area Community Center (blue
roof) in Clear Lake Park (across street from Clear Lake), 5002 NASA
Parkway. Driving east on NASA Parkway, two stop lights past the Hilton
turn left into the park. If you get to Kirby Drive, you have gone too
far. Contact: Grace Martinez/281-732-1201 gracemartinez7@earthlink.net. - RDA Civic Forums: Environmental Challenges Facing the
Houston Region Over the Next 25 Years. These two forums,
presented by the Rice Design Alliance, will feature nationally known
scientists, researchers, and public policy experts who will discuss
air, water, land, and health issues. 1) Challenges of Climate change on
August 21, 2013. 2) Challenges of competing land uses, environmental
justice, and public health on August 28, 2013. Both forums will be held
at 6:30 in the Brown Audtorium at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Moderated by Thomas Colbert, Associate Professor, Gerald D. Hines
College of Architecture, University of Houston, and CEC Board Member
Extraordinaire. More information available at http://ricedesignalliance.org/category/civic-forums. - Texas Gulf Coast Gardener Classes Return. The
Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is offering the Texas Gulf Coast
Gardener classes this fall! Registration is open August 1 – September
6, 2013. TGCG will give participants the knowledge and skills needed to
start, develop and maintain their own gardens through a variety of
gardening and horticulture topics specifically designed for the
pleasures and challenges of the Texas Gulf Coast climate. The 12-week
curriculum includes exciting lessons and lectures presented by Mercer
staff and horticulture/botany experts from the greater-Houston area,
plus hands-on learning activities. For more information, visit themercersociety.org. - Explore in a Kayak with Artist Boat. Artist Boat
is establishing a Coastal Heritage Preserve on Galveston Island and is
looking for people who want to explore by kayak. Public trips are
available for $10 per person–an incredible value. For a schedule of
events and to register for a trip, check out the website at www.artistboat.org. School groups are also welcome. Any teacher that schedules an Eco-Art Workshop for
$150 will be able to have an Eco-Art Kayak Adventure to the Coastal
Heritage Preserve for $150. The grant to acquire the land (Coastal
Heritage Preserve) is providing the financial resources to launch three
years of educational programming from this special place. The grant
supporting these Eco-Art Adventures is from the Texas General Land
Office Coastal Impact Assistance Program and includes the conservation
of 160 acres of coastal barrier island habitat on Galveston Bay. Artist
Boat is excited to be able to offer this unique opportunity to the
public and to school groups. For more information about Artist Boat’s
Eco-Art Adventures at the Coastal Heritage Preserve on Settegast Road,
please do not hesitate to contact LuAnne Ashley, Education Director of
Artist Boat, 2415 Avenue K, Galveston, TX, 77550;
lashley@artistboat.org; www.artistboat.org. - Bayou Greenways Snap and Share. Have you been
running along Buffalo Bayou? Or maybe enjoying a lazy day picnic in
Stude Park along White Oak? Either way, Houston Parks Board would like
to know. HPB is launching a photo review for the month of August to see
how Houstonians use the bayous. There are two ways to submit your
photos:
• Post on the HPB
Facebook page, or
• Email us at info@houstonparksboard.org
As HPB works to create nearly 1,500 new acres of greenspace along our
bayous, it hopes to celebrate all
those little “parks” moments with you this month. - Support CEC Member Groups at OKRA Charity Saloon.
Bayou Preservation Association and Houston Habitat for Humanity–both
CEC member groups–are amoung four charities chosen by OKRA Charity
Saloon for the month of August. 100% of the bar’s proceeds are donated
to a different Houston-based organization or social cause each month.
Bar patrons help determine the recipient of the award. Learn more at http://friedokra.org/charity-bar.html. - Oiled Wildlife Response Training Workshop. The
Wildlife Center of Texas will be conducting an oiled wildlife response
training workshop on Friday, August 30, 2013 from 9am-4pm. sponsored by
the Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response
Division. The workshop takes place at the Gladys Porter Zoo in
Brownsville, Texas and will certify and train personnel that are
interested in assisting The Wildlife Center of Texas Oiled Wildlife
Response Team during a spill. Lunch will be provided courtesy of CITGO
Petroleum Corporation. 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 the Incident Command
System and an actual hands on cleaning of oiled feathers in which
participants will practice by washing an unoiled white duck. More at http://cechouston.org/. - GBF Earns Land Trust Accreditation. GBF is thrilled to announce
that we have been awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation
Commission! We now join 230 land trusts in the nation, including seven
in Texas, who have been accredited since 2008. The accreditation
recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national standards
for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation
efforts are permanent. To learn more about what this means for land
conservation and GBF, read our press release.
cts.vresp.com/c/?GalvestonBayFoundati/a7e8639182/3cb5c01147/ae252fd416 - Apply for Mayor’s Proud partners Award.
Nominations due by August 19, 2013. More info at www.houstonbeautiful.org. - Applications sought for Annual Parks Awards. H-GAC’s
The 2013 Parks and Natural Areas Awards application is now
available online. This awards program seeks to recognize best
practices in parks planning, programming, and policy found in our
region. The submissions are due Friday, August 30, 2013, at noon.
Please see the application for details. For more information, contact
Kelly Porter at 713-993-4529. - Save the Date: Bayou Preservation Association’s 10th
Annual Symposium. “A Decade of Significant Change†Thursday,
October 3, 2013 from 7:30 am – 4:00 pm at United Way of Greater
Houston. For more details and to register visit http://www.bayoupreservation.org/symposium
- 2013 ArCH Film Festival: Boom and Bust. BOOM AND
BUST: Landscapes of Excess and Crisis. Cycles of Boom and Bust are
certain, and yet whether it’s by forces of economy, policy, environment
or our own selfishness, we find ourselves surprised, off guard and
unprepared. Marked by either tidal debris-lines, vacant lots, or
explosive development these forces are writ-large on our cities, towns
and villages. This year’s jury-selected film series will illuminate
cautionary, sometimes humorous, tales of excess and crisis ranging from
palatial extravagance in Miami to the cavernous vacancy in China. Join
the festival this year as the Architecture Center Houston explores the
impact of Boom and Bust cycles on our human habitats. The festival will
be held August 15-17, 2013. A single day pass is $5 for ArCH members
and $10 for the general public. A weekend pass is $10 for ArCH members
and $20 for the general public. https://aiahouston.org/ - Houston Urban Food Production Conference. The
Houston Urban Food Production Conference will be held on August 17,
2013, at United Way of Great Houston. Some of the educational trainings
include Organinc Certification, Beekeeping, Poultry Production, Goat
Production, Integrated Pest Management, Soil Building, Fruit & Nut
Production, Vegetable Production, Practical Weed Control, Efficient
Irrigation, and more! Call Diana at 281-855-5614 to register for this
program and for booth registration. Registration fee $50. More at http://cechouston.org/. - TCEQ to consider surface water quality standards. Proposed
rulemaking: Triennial Revision of 30 TAC Chapter 307, Texas Surface
Water Quality Standards. The proposed rulemaking would provide a
periodic public review and revision of the State’s surface water
quality standards, as provided for in Section 26.023 of the Texas Water
Code, and as required by Section 303(c) of the Federal Clean Water Act.
At their August 21 Commissioners Meeting in Austin, the TCEQ will
consider whether to propose changes to the standards and solicit public
comment. More information available on the TCEQ website. - Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Annual Public Hearing. August
21, 2013 2:00 p.m. Invitation from TPWD Executive Director Carter
Smith: On behalf of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), I
would like to extend an invitation for you to attend the Annual Public
Hearing of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. The Commission
holds this meeting each year to receive input from our partners,
stakeholders and constituents concerning any issues relating to TPWD
policies, goals, programs, and responsibilities. The meeting details
are listed below: • Time: 2:00 p.m. • Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2013
• Place: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 78744 • Directions and map • For
Info: TPWD Executive Office, carole.hemby@tpwd.texas.gov, 512-389-4804
or 512-389-4802 - Workshop on the Ecological Importance of Streamside Areas.
Texans love our many miles of beautiful streams. But how well do we
really understand the inner workings of creeks and rivers? This
workshop will help you to appreciate these waterways in a new and
different way. The main presenter, Steve Nelle, has 37 years of direct
experience working with Texas landowners and private lands conservation
as a Range Conservationist and Wildlife Biologist, and he has led
around 50 workshops of this kind. The workshop will be held from
noon-4pm on August 27, 2013, at the Brackenridge Park Hafernick Center
in Edna, TX. There is no cost for the workshop and BBQ lunch, but
please RSVP to Sylvia Balentine at the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority
either via e-mail sbalentine@LNRA.org or telephone (361) 782-5229. More
at http://cechouston.org/ - Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to Vote on Clean-up Plan.
August 28 – 1:00 Hyatt Regency Hotel – 601 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA.
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council will meet to vote on the Initial
Comprehensive Plan: Restoring the
Gulf Coast’s Ecosystem and Economy (Plan). The public is invited to
attend. U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and chair of the Council, Penny
Pritzker, will preside over the meeting. Louisiana Governor Bobby
Jindal will be in attendance as a Council member and host of the
meeting. Council representatives from the other Gulf States and
participating federal agencies will be in attendance. Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality Commissioner Toby Baker is Governor Rick
Perry’s designee to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, and
will represent the state at the meeting. Meeting materials, including
agenda, the Plan, the Response to Public Comments, and a Programmatic
Environmental Assessment, will be available beginning Aug. 21, 2013 on
the Council’s website: http://www.restorethegulf.gov/. - TCEQ accepting nominations for 2014 Texas Environmental
Excellence Awards. Deadline for applications Oct. 4, 2013.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2014 Texas Environmental Excellence
Awards, the state’s highest environmental honor. These annual awards
recognize achievements across Texas that significantly reduce waste,
conserve natural resources, and prevent pollution. The Texas
Environmental Excellence Awards are presented annually by the
governor’s office and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. A
governor’s blue ribbon committee identifies outstanding contributions
in nine diverse categories. The public may nominate an individual,
community, company, or organization for an award. Award categories
include: Agriculture, Civic/Community, Education, Individual,
Innovative Operations/Management, Pollution Prevention,
Technical/Technology, Water Conservation, and Youth. To nominate an
exemplary environmental effort for the 2014 awards, apply online at www.TEEA.org. - SSPEED Center Conference: Hurricane Ike 5 Years Later.
At this year’s SSPEED Center conference: “Hurricane Ike: 5 Years
Later,†top experts in the field will discuss hurricane protection for
Houston, Hurricane Sandy risk and response, and post Hurricane Katrina
activities. Keynote speakers include Houston Mayor Annise Parker,
Chairman Janiece Longoria of the Port of Houston Authority, Bill Read,
former director of the National Hurricane Center and Professor Ning Lin
from Princeton University who specializes in climate change and severe
weather events. The conference will highlight the SSPEED Center’s
proposed Centennial Gate, designed to protect the Houston Ship Channel.
This session will include a description of the gate, surge modeling,
legal issues, finance strategies, land use and ship channel
environmental risk and tank stability. The conference will address
emerging federal thinking on non-structural alternatives and the SSPEED
Center’s formation of the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area
and creation of the ecosystem services exchange. The conference will
take place from September 24-25, 2013 at the Rice University BioScience
Research Collaborative (BRC). Register at https://signup.rice.edu/. - Urban Photography Contest. CBRE is accepting
submissions for its 2013 Urban Photographer of the Year competition
“Cities at Work.” Deadline is Aug. 31. For more information, visit http://ijnet.org/
and http://www.cbrephotographer.com/. - 2013 National Reuse Contest. The City of Houston
Solid Waste Management Department Reuse Warehouse is coordinating
Houston’s participation in the 2013 National Reuse
Contest, sponsored by The ReUse People (TRP). Projects built
primarily of used building materials and completed within the past year
are eligible for submission. Houston entries received by the Saturday,
August 31, deadline will be judged by Mayor Annise Parker, Jim
“Mattress Mack” McIngvale and Dan Phillips of the Phoenix Commotion.
The three winners, announced Monday, September 30, will automatically
be entered in the national contest. Individuals in the greater Houston
area interested in competing should email a photo of their project to
Reuse Warehouse Manager Keith Koski. A complete list of rules,
participating stores and photos of previous contest winners, is
available online. - Field Trip Grants. It’s become increasingly
difficult for schools to fund learning opportunities outside the
classroom. To help them out, Target launched Field Trip Grants in 2007.
As part of the program, Target stores award Field Trip Grants to K-12
schools nationwide. Each grant is valued up to $700. Grant applications
are accepted between noon CST August 1, 2013 and noon CST September 30,
2013. More at https://corporate.target.com/. - Mesolothemia resources.
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com works to inform the public of
the dangers of asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring
mineral that, with prolonged exposure, could cause a number of health
issues, such as malignant mesothelioma cancer. The Mesothelioma Center
also offers a number of free services for a patients and families
affected by asbestos exposure, include a Doctor-Match program and
Patient Advocates who work 24/7 to answer any inquires and provide
support. More information at http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma. - TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on
KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in
Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD
website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area).- Hogs Wild
- Wild Game Cooking: Feral Hog Tacos
- Texas Paddling Trails
- Outdoor Info: Geocaching State Parks
- 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 13, 2013: Green–Good. Moderate
winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air
quality in the “Good” range statewide. - August 14, 2013: Green–Good. Moderate
winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air
quality in the “Good” range statewide. - August 15, 2013: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone.
If there is enough afternoon sunshine, increasing background levels and
light winds associated with an advancing cold front will help ozone
reach “Moderate” on the east and southeast side of the Houston area and
in the with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
- August 13, 2013: Green–Good. Moderate
ECONOTES Featured News
Articles–For dozens of additional headlines, visit the CEC website.
(You can let us know about articles, too. E-mail news@cechouston.org).
- Whooping Crane Case Could Affect State Water Supplies
(Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune – KUHF News, 8/11/2013)
As drought conditions and dry forecasts persist across Texas, lawyers
will argue a case in front of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on
Thursday that could have major implications for water supplies in the
state — and for natural resource planning nationally. Known as the
“whooping crane case,†the lawsuit pits environmental and endangered
species advocates against state and local officials across the country.
State agencies worry it could end up making them responsible for
protecting federally designated endangered species. http://app1.kuhf.org/ - High water everywhere: Scientists map the risks of rising
seas for Texas (Texas Climate News, 8/6/2013)
Texas faces a challenging future as human-caused climate change brings
what scientists project will be escalating rates of sea-level rise. A
couple of recently published, nationwide studies provide graphic
portrayals of the threats that sea-level rise poses to populated areas
in Texas and other states. Looking ahead, more in-depth mapping and
evaluation of how rising seas could affect Houston and nearby areas on
the upper Texas coast, plus “tools to address this critical issue,â€
will be forthcoming from a recently announced project being launched by
researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. http://texasclimatenews.org/ - Battle looms over expanding shipments of coal in Houston
(Matthew Tresaugue – Fuel Fix, 8/5/2013)
The expansion of a terminal along the heavily industrialized Houston
Ship Channel normally receives little attention. But Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners’ plans to refurbish two docks have opened a new front
in the fight over coal. Environmentalists are mounting a campaign to
stop the projects and a dozen other proposed shipping terminals along
the Gulf Coast because the docks, if built to capacity, could export as
much as 200 million tons of coal per year from Appalachia and the
Rockies to Asia and Europe. http://fuelfix.com/ - Scoop.it Page. The CEC is now maintaining a page
on Scoop.it. Check it out! http://www.scoop.it/t/citizens-environmental-coalition-houston
GREEN JOBS Tell them you
heard about it from us! Job listings can be found at CEC’s Green Jobs page.New
- NEW! Buffalo Bayou Partnership seeks Park Wide Supervisor. Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is
overseeing major enhancement of Buffalo Bayou Park – Shepherd to
Sabine, a 2.3 mile long, 160-acre City Park west of downtown Houston.
The organization is seeking a Park Wide Supervisor for Shepherd to
Sabine. Some of the essential functions include: Examine new or
existing landscape sites and irrigation systems, examine repairs or
modifications to ensure trades work and materials conform to prescribed
quality and standards; Obtain evidence of failure to comply by
sketching or photographing locations and features of deviations; Check
irrigation system components including, but not limited to, water
distribution lines, sprinkler heads, valves, pumps, nozzles and
backflows devices for defects; Oversee the supervision of personnel,
which includes work allocation, training, and problem resolution:
evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions;
motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance;
Oversee turf and irrigation management activities in compliance with
park standards; Oversee and coordinate tree care program, including all
pruning, plant diagnosis, tree removal, and replacement, tree repairs,
and tree hazard evaluations; and more. If interested, please send Cover
Letter and Resume to: jobs@buffalobayou.org or Mr. Gregg Burks, BBP –
S2S Park Director / 1113 Vine Street, Suite 200 / Houston, TX 77002. No
phone calls please. - NEW! The Woods Project seeks
Club Program Instructors. The Woods Project is seeking
part-time (approximately 6 hrs/wk) Club Program Instructors to teach
one or more of our weekly afterschool club programs for the 2013 – 2014
school year. The right candidate will be an outdoorsperson with
experience working with high school youth, preferably some experience
with low income youth. Some additional requirements are flexible weekly
schedule, access to personal transportation, must be comfortable with
camping/backpacking gear, enjoy being in a mentor/leadership role.
Duties will include travelling to schools to teach an hour club,
working with existing curriculum as well as developing new
research-based lessons. Instructors must commit to the 2013-2014 school
year, attend one fall and spring semester camping trip, and are highly
encouraged to participate in the 2014 summer trip to places in Northern
California or Montana. Ability to work independently and with
confidence is a requirement of the job, as is the ability to
communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. For more
information about The Woods Project and the Club Program Instructor
position, please visit www.thewoodsproject.org.
Interested candidates should contact Brittany White, Director of
Programs, at brittany@thewoodsproject.org. - NEW! Air Alliance Houston seeks
Teaching Artist. Air Alliance Houston is the Houston region’s
leading environmental health and air quality nonprofit. Their mission
is to reduce air pollution in the Houston region and to protect public
health and environmental integrity through research, education and
advocacy. They are seeking a motivated individual to teach “Ozone
Theater,†award winning, cross-collaborative lesson plans to k-8th
graders in the Houston region. The Teaching Artist will work
independently and in conjunction with the Education department on
ongoing programs and new initiatives. This position will encompass a
broad range of skills, including instruction on public health and
quality of life, elementary to middle school education, data recording,
paper work, and organizing. An ideal candidate will have a record of
success working within the education field. Experience in all of these
fields is not required, but intellectual and professional flexibility
between fields and disciplines. Applications will be considered until
the position is filled. Interested applicants should send complete
resume and cover letter to hiring@airalliancehouston.org. - National Wildlife Federation seeks Regional Development
Manager (Austin). NWF is currently seeking a Regional Development
Manager to primarily be responsible for the National Wildlife
Federation’s philanthropic efforts in the South Central Region. The RDM
has three primary functions: 1) to support and advance fundraising
activities within the Region; 2) to keep abreast of and communicate
both internally and externally the programmatic needs and
accomplishments of the Region as they relate to broader cultivation and
fundraising strategies; 3) to secure appropriate support from and
collaboration with the Philanthropy Department to ensure that regional
fundraising goals are met. Learn more and apply at www.nwf.org. - Texas Living Waters seeks Attorney (Austin). The
Texas Living Waters Project is a joint effort of the Lone Star Chapter
of the Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation as well as regional
partner, Galveston Bay Foundation. Texas Living Waters is hiring an
Attorney responsible for developing, recommending, and prosecuting
environmental litigation (primarily in the form of participating in
administrative proceedings related to water rights applications);
developing and advancing changes in legal policy through regulatory and
legislative venues; and assisting and coordinating with NWF Water
Project staff and Texas Living Waters Project partners to improve water
policy and management in Texas. The attorney will be responsible for
identifying and implementing a wide range of legal and policy tools,
including, but not limited to, state laws relating to management of
surface water and groundwater and federal laws, such as the National
Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act, and the Clean Water Act. The position is
responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and recommending revisions to
existing and proposed regulations and legislation; providing legal
assistance to NWF affiliates and like-minded organizations; traveling
and making presentations in support of litigation and policy
activities. If interested please apply on line: www.nwf.org. - Harris County Flood Control
District seeks Field Technician. Responsible for assisting the
Storm Water Quality Department Manager in managing and monitoring
environmental projects for the Storm Water Quality Department of
Environmental Services Division to protect and enhance surfacewater
quality in support of the District’s mission. Learn about the HCFCD
job here. - Recipe for Success seeks Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Educator.
Train then Teach Children’s Nutrition Education for
award-winning non-profit. Paid training involves web-based coursework
and on the job training in classroom. Certified Instructors teach after
school cooking and gardening classes and mentor wellness programs in
elementary schools. Experience: minimum 1 year culinary experience;
organic gardening skills & early childhood education a plus.
Education: BA or equivalent experience. P/T. Start at $15/hour. Email
cover letter of interest and resume to molly@recipe4success.org. http://recipe4success.org/ - H-GAC seeks Senior Air Quality Planner. The Senior Planner
will serve as a primary staff for Transportation Air Quality
Implementation Programs which may include Clean Air Action, Clean
Vehicle and/or Commute Solutions activities. Coordinates and
supports the efforts of local, state and federal agencies in complying
with the various federal and state alternative fuel mandates and
trading regulations. This position will support regional efforts
to meet attainment of federal air quality standards by assisting in
creatively analyzing and promoting transportation-related air quality
programs and investigating other potential measures to help reduce
ground level ozone. More at www.h-gac.com/careers. - H-GAC seeks Air Quality Coordinator. Provides
day-to-day oversight of the Clean Vehicles grant program and support to
related programs including the region’s Clean Cities Coalition and
H-GAC’s Drayage Loan Program. Supervises both technical and
administrative aspects of the program, coordinates program staff, and
tracks/analyzes metrics to ensure overall objectives are
achieved. Reports to the Air Quality Program Manager,
Transportation Department. More at www.h-gac.com/careers. - Uptown Houston seeks Project Manager for Memorial Park.
Uptown Houston, through its tax reinvestment zone (TIRZ), recently
incorporated Memorial Park into its service area. Memorial Park is
among the largest urban parks in the U.S., and is Houston’s largest
inner city park covering almost 1,500 acres. The Memorial Park Project
– a twenty-year, $100 million park improvement program – is just now
being launched as part of Houston Parks And Recreation Department’s,
Memorial Park Conservancy’s and Uptown Houston’s partnership to make
vital improvements in Memorial Park. Specifics of the Project will be
determined by the proposed master plan for Memorial Park, which will be
developed in 2013 – 2014. Responsibilities of the Project Manager for
Memorial Park include: to serve as the Project Manager for the master
plan and park improvement projects; to manage the execution of the
master plan in accordance with its phased construction; To manage
day-to-day operational aspects of the planning and construction stages;
to manage the procurement of consultants and advisers throughout the
planning and construction stages; to identify resources needed and
assign responsibilities; and more. To apply, send responses to 1980
Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1580, Houston, Texas 77056; Attention: Betsy
Kirkgard bkirkgard@uptown-houston.com. Include your resume, cover
letter, and minimum of 2 references. - Memorial Park Conservancy seeks Conservation Director. The
Conservation Director of Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC) is primarily
responsible for restoration and enhancement of Memorial Park’s natural
environment through the use of trees and plants that are native to the
area. Duties and responsibilities include: developing and maintaining
inventory of park forest that identifies trees by species, area of the
park and estimated age; planning and implementing plantings and
irrigation within the maintained areas of the Park; planning and
implementing reforestation where appropriate; working with Houston
Parks and Recreation (HPARD), technical experts and consultants to
study Memorial Park’s ecology and identify today’s and future
requirements and constraints to restore the park’s natural ecology
within the context of the long-range Master Planning process;
implementing ecosystem management regimes contained in the approved
Master Plan; and more. If interested, email cover letter, resume,
references and compensation requirements to: Shellye Arnold, Executive
Director, Memorial Park Conservancy at
sarnold@memorialparkconservancy.org.
CEC is sharing information during the
session about what bills our member groups and readers are tracking.
More information is available at cechouston.org/category/texas-legislature/.
The last day of the regular session was Monday, May 27, 2013, followed
by a special session for redistricting. On June 12, 2013, the Governor
called for additional legislation to be considered during the special
session. Learn more at www.legis.state.tx.us.
CEC will provide additional updates from our member groups soon.
UPCOMING EVENTS If
you attend one of these events, please let them know you heard about it
here! Visit the calendar at cechouston.org.
Due to technical difficulties, the
following events do not contain hyperlinks. Additional information
about the events can be found at cechouston.org.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
- 3:30 pm Rice University Farmers Market @ Rice University South
Stadium Lot - 6:00 pm Baytown Fit Kids @ Baytown Community Center
- 6:00 pm Chimney Swift Counts @ Pershing Middle School
- 6:00 pm Gulf Council Public Hearings on Amendments 19 & 20 to
the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan @ Hampton Inn
& Suites - 6:30 pm Toad Tuesdays @ Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
- 6:00 am Eco-Ology Radio Program on KPFT @ 90.1 FM KPFT Houston,TX
- 8:30 am Weekly Bird Walk @ Kleb Woods Nature Center
- 9:00 am Wetland Restoration @ Sheldon Lake State Park
- 10:00 am Gator Tales @ Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education Center
- 10:30 am Aquarium Fish Feeding @ Sea Center Texas
- 11:00 am Urban Harvest Farmers Market @ City Hall
- 11:30 am Houston Food Policy Workgroup @ Upper Kirby Building
- 12:00 pm Lunch Bunch at Mercer Arboretum @ Mercer Arboretum
- 4:00 pm Nature Story Time @ Nature Discovery Center
- 7:00 pm Engineers Without Borders monthly meeting @ Rice
University Mechanical Lab, Room 253 or 254
Thursday, August 15, 2013
- 8:00 am Houston Audubon Bird Survey @ Baytown Nature Center
- 8:00 am KPC Field Day @ Indiangrass Preserve’s Coastal Prairie
Native Seed Nursery - 9:00 am Bolivar Horseshoe Marsh Work Day
- 9:30 am H-GAC Pedestrian and Bicycle Subcommittee @
Houston-Galveston Area Council - 10:30 am West Reach Committee Mtg – – Thursday, August 15th, 2013
– 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm - 11:20 am TAEP Luncheon @ Brady’s Landing Restaurant
- 3:00 pm Kingwood Farmers Market @ Town Center Park
- 5:30 pm Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership Public Meeting @ Eddie
V. Gray Wetlands Center - 6:00 pm Baytown Fit Kids @ Baytown Community Center
- 7:00 pm 2013 ArCH Film Festival: Boom and Bust @ ArCH
- 7:00 pm Native Plant Society Monthly Meeting @ Houston Arboretum
and Nature Center
Friday, August 16, 2013
- 9:30 am Mommy & Me Outdoor Experiences @ Armand Bayou Nature
Center - 10:00 am Morning Bird Watching Hike @ Brazos Bend State Park
- 10:30 am Aquarium Fish Feeding @ Sea Center Texas
- 5:00 pm Bat Presentations @ Waugh Street Bridge
- 7:00 pm 2013 ArCH Film Festival: Boom and Bust @ ArCH
- EaDo Pub Crawl & A Full Day Dynamo Package benefitting Air
Alliance Houston
Saturday, August 17, 2013
- all-day Houston Urban Food Production Conference @ United Way
- 7:30 am Sierra Walkers @ Nassau Bay Post Office
- 8:00 am Grogan’s Mill Farmer’s Market
- 8:00 am Guided Nature Tour and Free Family Fishing @ Sheldon Lake
State Park and Environmental Learning Center - 8:00 am Houston Audubon Field Trip
- 8:00 am Lake Jackson Bird Banding @ Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
- 8:00 am Pontoon Boat Cruises @ Armand Bayou Nature Center
- 8:00 am Urban Harvest Farmers Market @ Eastside
- 8:00 am Willow Waterhole Bird Count @ Willow Waterhole Greenspace
Reserve - 9:00 am Katy Farmers Market @ La Centerra
- 9:00 am KPC Field Day @ Indiangrass Preserve’s Coastal Prairie
Native Seed Nursery - 9:00 am Sugar Land Farmers Market @ Imperial Sugar Land
- 9:00 am Urban Harvest Class – Starting a Community/School Garden:
Garden Design, Fruits & Vegetables #2 @ Green Planet Sanctuary - 9:00 am Wildlife Workday on the Strand @ The Strand in Galveston
- 10:00 am BTA Neches River Adventures @ Riverfront Park
- 10:00 am Guided Trail Hike @ Armand Bayou Nature Center
- 10:00 am Jones Park Fabulous Nighttime Flyers: Bats @ Jesse H.
Jones Park & Nature Center - 3:00 pm Texas Parks and Wildlife on PBS
- 5:00 pm Texas Master Naturalist Fall 2013 Training Session Begins!
- 7:00 pm 2013 ArCH Film Festival: Boom and Bust @ ArCH
- 7:00 pm Armand Bayou Owl Prowl and Night Hike @ Armand Bayou
Nature Center
Sunday, August 18, 2013
- 8:00 am Guided Nature Tour and Free Family Fishing @ Sheldon Lake
State Park and Environmental Learning Center - 8:00 am Sunday Bicycling @ Jesse H. Jones Park
- 1:00 pm Sundays in Nature @ Armand Bayou Nature Center
- 2:00 pm Invasives Beware @ Jesse H. Jones Park
Monday, August 19, 2013
- 8:00 am Monday Morning Birding @ Jesse H. Jones Park
- 10:30 am Story Time in the Garden @ Mercer Arboretum
- 6:30 pm Galveston Bay Area Sierra Club Meeting @ Bay Area
Community Center (blue roof) in Clear Lake Park (across street from
Clear Lake)
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
- 4:30 am East Reach Committee Mtg – – Tuesday, August 20th, 2013 –
9:30 am – 11:00 am - 8:00 am Prairie Restoration @ Sheldon Lake Sate Park &
Environmental Learning Center - 9:00 am Breaking Ground on Grand Gateway Renovation Project @
Near the Sam Houston Monument at the entrance to Hermann Park - 3:30 pm Rice University Farmers Market @ Rice University South
Stadium Lot - 6:00 pm Baytown Fit Kids @ Baytown Community Center
- 6:00 pm Chimney Swift Counts @ Pershing Middle School
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION This weekly update is
brought to you by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, established as
a 501(c)3 in 1971. CEC is a coalition of over 100 environmental
organizations dedicated to fostering dialogue, education, and
collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston / Gulf Coast
region. Visit the CEC on line at cechouston.org.
Do you know of something great going on? News? Events? Accomplishments?
Jobs? Let us know! Send submittals to news@cechouston.org. If
possible, send information by Friday for inclusion the following
Tuesday. We especially like short paragraphs, catchy titles, third
person, and links to more information, but we will work with whatever
you send us. Calendar items can be submitted up to two years in
advance. We are always looking for volunteers to help keep our calendar
up to date.
CEC and other leading environmental organizations participate in
payroll contribution plans at many Texas workplaces through Earth Share
of Texas. Find out how you can support CEC at 800-GREENTX or www.earthshare-texas.org.
CEC agencies receive donations when you choose Green Bank. Visit www.greenbank.com
for more information about the program.
Rachel Powers, Executive Director
Sophany Touch, IREX Community Solutions Fellow
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
(713) 524-4232