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September 23, 2014

Houston Environmental News Update September 23, 2014

COALITION NOTES

  1. Call of The Wild Speaker Series: Julian Fennessy. Come out to the Houston Zoo’s Brown Education Center on September 25, 2014 for the Call of the Wild speaker series with Julian Fennesy. Julian Fennessy is Executive Director of GCF, Conservation Scientist, and a founding Trustee of GCF. He will be speaking on his 15+ years experience in species and habitat ecology, conservation and land management across the African continent (and Australia), and in particular, focal giraffe related activities across Africa. His experience in the field of giraffe conservation is something few others can boast, from individual field projects, supervision of students, population and country-wide assessments, to expert advising on species conservation strategies. Learn more: www.houstonzoo.org.
  2. HMNS Distinguished Lecture Series: Plant Conservation in a Rapidly Changing World. Join Dr. Peter Raven, President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden, on September 25, 2014, at 6:30pm at the Houston Museum of Natural Science for a special lecture, “Plant Conservation in a Rapidly Changing World.” Dr. Raven will describe efforts to save the thousands of species of plants that are being driven to extinction while there is still time. These efforts include genetic seed banks, the establishment of protected areas and botanic garden collections. Tickets for the lecture are $18. Learn more and purchase tickets at http://store.hmns.org.
  3. Texas Gulf Coast Gardener Class Series. Mercer Botanic Garden’s is very excited to once again be offering it’s Texas Gulf Coast Gardener class series. Tiers 1 and 2 of this popular program will be offered again this fall. The TGCG curriculum, developed by the botanists and staff at Mercer Botanic Gardens, gives participants the knowledge and skills needed to grow, develop, and maintain their own gardens through a variety of gardening and horticulture topics specifically designed for the Texas Gulf Coast climate. Tier-1 and Tier-2 are two separate classes in a three part program. While the classes do build on each other it is not necessary to take them in any particular order. Tier 1 covers topics including site preparation, composting, plant propagation, and water-wise irrigation practices. Tier 2 focuses on plants that can be successfully cultivated in home gardens and landscapes in the Texas Gulf Coast climate. This fall’s programs will be 9-weeks long. Tier-1 will be held on Thursdays from September 25, 2014 – November 20, 2014. Tier-2 will be held on Tuesdays from September 23, 2014 – November 18, 2014. The cost of enrollment for TMS members is $200; enrollment for non-members is $225. Participants will receive a text book, T-shirt or tote bag, and a one-year membership to TMS. Call 281-443-8731 or visit the park to enroll.
  4. National Public Lands Day. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. This year, NPLD falls on September 27, 2014. Here are two events that will be held in the Houston area:
    • Hermann Park’s Bayou Parkland. Lend a hand for habitat restoration in Hermann Park’s Bayou Parkland from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Located along the southeast border of Hermann Park, the Bayou Parkland area hosts a unique environment with a diversity of trees and wildlife. The trail system through the northern portion of the Bayou Parkland winds within the eight-acre urban forest through a natural area of the park this is an important part of Hermann Park’s reforestation plan that allows visitors to observe a natural environment free of activities that may alter natural plant and animal life. For more information or to sign up, email volunteer@hermannpark.org.
    • Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge. Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge along with the Friends of Trinity River Refuge will host a trash cleanup day at the Hwy 105 Trinity River Bridge from 9:00am until 11:00am. The cleanup event is part of a national effort for National Public Lands Day and all volunteers are welcome! Aluminum cans and metal will be recycled. Bring gloves if you have them and the plastic bags will be supplied. If you have any questions, please call Stuart Marcus at 936/336-9786.
  5. Marsh Mania. Join Galveston Bay Foundation on Saturday, September 27, 2014,to celebrate National Estuaries Day by having fun restoring marsh at three different Marsh Mania sites around Galveston Bay! Be a part of a community of more than 7,100 volunteers over the past fifteen years who have restored over 202 acres at 74 sites around the bay. Restoration Sites: Shipe Woods (Oak Island/Anahuac), Bay Harbor (Galveston Island), Pine Gully Park (Seabrook). Learn more!
  6. Scenic Galveston’s 28th Event: GLO Adopt-A-Beach-Estuary. SCENIC GALVESTON’s wetlands partnership cleaning event with the General Land Office is fast approaching! It’s time again for volunteers to step through and into the Tide‖ to remove tons of debris, invasive plants, ugly objects from SG’s estuarial habitat conservation preserves and shorelines. There will be on site registration between 8-9am. The cleanup will be held on September 27, 2014, 9am-noon. After, teams will return to the O’Quinn Pavillion for a custom lunch (required RSVP) with a lively report on latest habitat conservation work, team leader reports, and the day’s bird count. Learn more at www.guidrynews.com.
  7. Fall 2014 RSA/RDA Lecture Series: Near Future. The Fall 2014 Rice School of Architecture and Rice Design Alliance lecture series will bring to Houston five visionaries whose creative work attempts to forecast the future. The future is typically represented in literature, film, and art as a distant fantasy — flying cars, robot servants, laser beams. But these speakers — an architectural historian, photographer, production designer, architect and curator, and artist — examine the actual present conditions of our cities and combine both what is familiar and what is unexpected to speculate about the look of things in the next generation. Near Future, curated by RSA Wortham Fellow Sam Stewart-Halevy, will follow a different format from prior RSA/RDA lecture series. On Wednesday, October 1, 2014, Jean-Louis Cohen, an architectural historian and critic, will provide a solo introduction.Purchase tickets online. Learn more at http://ricedesignalliance.org.
  8. Tree & Wetland Plant Nursery Open House. Trees for Houston and the Texas Coastal Watershed Program, in conjunction with the Clear Lake City Water Authority and the Exploration Green Conservancy, are holding a joint open house for the tree and wetland nurseries at Exploration Green, October 4, 2014, 9am-12pm. Tours will be offered and information provided about volunteer opportunities in the nurseries, which are growing trees and plants for the conservation and recreation area in Clear Lake City. The nurseries are accessible from the trail that heads northeast from the bridge on Neptune Lane, approximately 2 ½ blocks north of Bay Area Blvd. Learn more at www.explorationgreen.org.
  9. Mission to Marsh. Armand Bayou Nature Center will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and honoring its neighbor and partner NASA Johnson Space Center at “Mission to Marsh” with an evening of dining, dancing and fundraising under the stars on Saturday, October 4, 2014 on the nature center grounds. Over 350 community leaders and officials with their families and friends are expected to gather under the giant tent to recall how JSC and ABNC have grown up together as local icons, and to celebrate four decades of contributions to education, health and quality of life in the Clear Lake region. Both live and silent auction items will be offered to help fund Armand Bayou Nature Center education and habitat restoration programs. The community is invited to join the celebration. Individual tickets and tables for eight can be reserved by contacting the gala coordinator at Annette@e-eventsgroup.com or 713-532-6907. More at www.abnc.org.
  10. KPFT 90.1 Tennis Fun Fest. Come out to the Homer Ford Tennis Center on October 11, 2014, for a fun day of tennis! This event will be hosted by KPFT 90.1. The day begins at 8:30am with a 45-minute clinic led by tennis star Lori McNeil (formerly ranked #9 in the world) and her coach and mentor, John Wilkerson. There will be 3 levels of play: Youth to age 16; Adult: Novice; Adult Intermediate/Advanced. The matches will be twenty minutes. This day will be fun for the whole family! Come out for music, food, playground, and auction. Spectators are welcome! Find out more at http://kpft.org.
  11. BioBlitz 2014: Coastal Heritage Preserve. Calling all citizen-scientists to join Artist Boat for the 2014 BioBlitz of Artist Boat’s Coastal Heritage Preserve on west Galveston Island. BioBlitz is an all-day event in which scientist-led inventory teams work together to find, identify, and document as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms as possible. Open to the General Public, Scientists, Naturalists, Birders, Students, Families, Educators, and Volunteers. Bioblitz 2014 will be held on October 11, 2014, 9am-2pm. Lunch will be provided by the sponsors Moody National Bank and the Galveston Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers! Space is limited to please pre-register by calling or emailing Artist Boat to reserve your spot! Learn more at cechouston.org.
  12. Trails at Twilight: Woodland Park Celebration. For 100 years, Woodland Park has provided Houstonians a haven of natural beauty. Help preserve this precious resource for coming generations. Join Friends of Woodland Park for a wonderful evening celebrating Woodland Park’s rich history and its bright future! The evening will include food, drinks, a silent auction, and dancing to the music of Zenteno Spirit. Help them reach their fundraising goal of $50,000 which will be used for a variety of exciting new park improvements The wish list includes: park benches, playground equipment, trail signage, foot bridges, game tables and much more. Find out more at www.friendsofwoodlandpark.org.
  13. Texas Fresh: Beyond Organic Dinner. On October 18, 2014, support Central City Co-op and the Last Organic Outpost by celebrating with food in the finest way – fresh at the farm prepared by Chef Jeremy Goodwin of Texas Al Fresco. Come dine in an urban oasis and show your continued support for local food that goes beyond organic. The cost is $70. Get your ticket at www.centralcityco-op.com.
  14. BPA’s 11th Annual Symposium: “Get Out to the Bayou and… Swim?” Sink or swim? Houston is known as the Bayou City since it is home to 22 watersheds. Why don’t we see people swimming, splashing around, or sitting on the banks? If you’re wondering the same thing, then head out to Bayou Preservation Association’s 11th annual Symposium, “Get out to the Bayou and… Swim” on Thursday, October 23, 2014, from 7:30am – 4:00pm at United Way. For just $50 a person and $35 for students or teachers, this year’s event will dive into the topic of swimming in the bayous and will feature keynote speakers Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg, Gary Garrett, Robert Rayburn, Susan Darcy, Jeff Taebel, Charlie Jenkins, Barnaby Evans, Pat Walsh, Mike Talbott, John Blount and Scott McCready. Learn more and register at www.bayoupreservation.com.
  15. Save the Date! How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Our dynamic coastline is changing faster than ever before. Changes are visible over the last 50, 30 and even 10 years. The environmental, social and economic impacts of coastal change are readily measurable and are increasing. These impacts can make us less resilient, particularly when more intense conditions affect our coastal state. The effects result in even greater impact beyond our coast. The Shell Center for Sustainability presents How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Are we in a “state of denial”? A workshop that presents the most recent scientific data modeled by a team of multidisciplinary researchers working together to measure what these effects will mean to us. The workshop takes place on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at McMurtry Auditorium in Duncan  Hall, on the Rice University campus. More at http://shellcenter.rice.edu.
  16. Galveston Bay Report Card. Did you know that half of Texans live within the Galveston Bay watershed, which extends from the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico? Take this #GalvBaySurvey online and let the Galveston Bay Foundation know what issues are important to you, and what you would like to learn more about. www.galvbay.org
  17. Additional Upcoming Events

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. This year, the Take-Back Day will be held on September 27, 2014, 10am-2pm at various locations. Find a collection site near you by visiting www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
  2. Bike Safety Class. Bike Houston and Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invite the public to attend a free Bike Safety Course taught by certified instructors from Bike Houston on September 28, 2014, at 1 pm. The course will consist of around 90 minutes of classroom instruction in the parish hall at Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church, followed by about 90 minutes of actual safe riding practice. The course is considered suitable for riders of all ages. The church is located at 2353 Rice Blvd. (at the corner of Rice Blvd. and Greenbriar). The church parish hall is immediately to your left as you enter the building from the parking lot. Bike parking is available in the church lot. For more information or to register for the course, please e-mail gcs.lrc@gmail.com or call 713-372-7345. If you can’t make the class, Bike Houston recommends self-training available at www.bikeEd.org.
  3. Monarchs: Is the Migration Moribund? The monarch butterfly is known for its annual roundtrip journey to and from overwintering sanctuaries in central Mexico. Yet today this marathon migration is under great threat. Join Dr. Nancy Grieg on September 29, 2014, at 6:30pm at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Dr. Grieg will discuss what, if anything, can we do, followed by a screening of the 3D film Flight of the Butterflies. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.hmns.org.
  4. 2014-2015 Energy Symposium Series: Critical Issues in Energy. The second annual Energy Symposium Series will be held on September 30, 2014, 5:30-8pm at the University of Houston. The topic of this event is US Energy Independence: Good for the Nation? Guest speakers include Edward Chow, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Ed Hirs, Hillhouse Resources LLC and University of Houston, and Jane Kleeb, Bold Nebraska. The event will be moderated by Dave Fehling of Houston Public Media. This is a free event. Visit www.eventbrite.com to register.
  5. The Alternative Reality of Climate Skepticism. Come out to the James A. Baker III Hall at Rice University on October 1, 2014, noon-1pm, for a presentation on “The Alternative Reality of Climate Skepticism.” While scientists overwhelmingly believe that climate change is a reality, many Americans remain unconvinced by the research and data. Andrew Dessler, an atmospheric scientist at Texas A&M University who studies both the science and politics of climate change, will describe how climate skeptics interpret scientific data to support their particular worldviews. Learn more at http://bakerinstitute.org.
  6. Organic Pest Management and Plant Health Workshop. You can’t miss this all day workshop featuring 7 classes offering real-world organic pest and plant management knowledge aimed at professional pesticide applicators, landscape contractors, and irrigators. Applicators may recieve 5 CEU credits and TNLA is offering 7 credits. The workshop will be held on October 3, 2014, from 7:30am-4pm at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office. Tickets are $50 for members and $65 for nonmembers.
  7. SXSW Eco 2014 (Austin, TX). SXSW Eco 2014 is approaching! SXSW Eco attracts a global community to explore, engage and co-create solutions for a sustainable world. A uniquely inclusive platform for professionals, SXSW Eco examines the critical challenges of our times through a kaleidoscopic lens of design innovation, policy tipping points, technological breakthroughs, conservation practice, entrepreneurial spirit and a culture of creativity to transform inspiration into action. This 3 day event will feature speakers, sessions, workshops, networking opportunities with experts and industry leaders, film screenings, receptions, SXSW Eco Awards Ceremony, closing party, mentor sessions, exhibition, meet ups, startup central, and more! SXSW Eco will be held October 6-8, 2014, in Austin, TX. Register by September 12 to save at http://sxsweco.com!
  8. Coastal Resiliency Conference: Living on the Edge. Galveston Historical Foundation’s Center for Coastal Heritage, in partnership with University of Texas Medical Branch’s Center in Environmental Toxicology, is organizing a three day conference on coastal resilience scheduled for October 8-10, 2014. This conference will provide a platform to discuss the challenges and strategies for building and preserving a resilient Gulf Coast. Attendees will explore the connections between the natural environment and the cultural heritage of coastal populations. The cost is $120, and $25 for students. Register at www.galvestonhistory.org.
  9. Matter and Meaning: Exploring the Religion and Science Dialogue. Matter and Meaning: Exploring the Religion and Science Dialogue is the culminating public event of the Religious Understandings of Science (RUS) study. This day-long conference will include breakout sessions on Religious and Scientific Dialogue on Human Genetic Reproductive Technologies and Religious Responses to Environmental Concern. Keynote panelists include Alejandro Chaoul (University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), John Evans (University of California San Diego), Katharine Hayhoe (Texas Tech University), Ronald Numbers (University of Wisconsin-Madison), John Mark Reynolds (Houston Baptist University), and Norbert Samuelson (Arizona State University). The event will be held on October 24, 2014, at 8:30am at Rice University. More at http://houston.eventful.com.
  10. Biennial Scientific Symposium. Register now for the Children’s Environmental Health Institute’s Eight Biennial Scientific Symposium: Prenatal Environmental Exposures as a Determinant of Early Childhood Disease. Hear global experts challenge us to elevate critical  thinking on ways to address the prevention of environmental health risks to children. Keynote speakers Jeanne Conry, MD, PhD, and Philippe Grandjean, MD, PhD, among other distinguished speakers will provide prevention-oriented research on how toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce, negatively affect pregnancies, and are associated with numerous health problems and chronic disease. The symposium will be held November 13-14, 2014, at McKinney Roughs Education Center, close to Austin Texas. Learn more and register at http://cehi.org.
  11. Flood Control District Completes Buffalo Bayou Maintenance Project. The Harris County Flood Control District has completed an erosion repair project on the north side of Buffalo Bayou just east of the Dairy Ashford Street bridge. The pedestrian and bike trail near the construction site that was temporarily closed during the maintenance project has been repaired and reopened by Harris County Precinct 3. The Flood Control District plans to be back on site to plant trees this fall. For more information about the maintenance project on Buffalo Bayou in Terry Hershey Park, or if you have questions or comments, please call the Flood Control District’s Project and Study Information Line, which is monitored daily, at 713-684-4040 or email ProjectCommunications@hcfcd.org.
  12. Captain Planet Foundation Small Grant. The Captain Planet Foundation primarily makes grants to U.S.-based schools and organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3 million. Grants are made for activities that conform to the mission of the Captain Planet Foundation and MUST have all three of the following to be considered for funding: be project based; projects must be performed by youth; and projects must have real environmental outcomes. Captain Planet Foundation will accept small grant requests for amounts between $500 – $2,500. Preferential consideration is given to requests who have secured at least 50% matching or in-kind funding for their projects. The application for spring and summer projects is September 30, 2014, and January 31, 2015, for fall and winter projects. Read more and apply at http://captainplanetfoundation.org.
  13. International Low Impact Development Conference 2015. The International Low Impact Development Conference 2015 will be held January 19-21, 2015. This conference will highlight new and continuing work including research developments and community adoption of LID throughout the United States and internationally. In addition, this conference will focus on the application of LID technology in the Southwest region of the US and will also include a mini-symposium on arid region LID. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CNN’s 2013 Hero of the Year, Chad Pregracke, whose presentation will be “Helping to Clean America’s Rivers: From the Bottom Up.” Learn more at http://content.asce.org.
  14. Additional Community Announcements  
  15. 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.
    • The Last Dance? Attwater Prairie-Chickens
    • Kickapoo Cavern State Park
    • Parks & Wildlife People: Radio Team
    • Mystery of the Tarpon
  16. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.

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ECONOTES

Featured

  1. Historic Climate March Orchestrated in cities around the world On September 21, 2014, one of the largest peaceful marches, People’s Climate March, took place.  Thousands of people marched in London, Rio De Janero, and New York City . Over 400,000 thousand marched on New York City, in what is being called the largest protest against climate change in history. The marches took place days before 2014 UN Climate Summit . Check out instagram and #hastags on twitter to get a first-hand perspective on the marches around the world.
  2. Houston’s top gardener hangs up her trowel after 28 years (Kathy Huber – Houston Chronicle, 9/15/2014)
    Horticulturist Dee Howell has recently retired. “She’s done more with less than almost anyone,” said parks department director Joe Turner. “Her knowledge is phenomenal, and I’m going to miss her. She puts the icing on city landscapes.” With an annual budget of only $56,000 for materials, Howell, 61, and her staff of six whip up 100,000 bedding plants each year in the big glass house. They sow seeds, root cuttings and schedule flats of plants they’ve grown for delivery to Memorial Park Golf Course, Mecom Fountain, Houston City Hall, Hermann Park and other city green spaces.
    www.houstonchronicle.com
  3. The San Jacinto River in Peril: Part Three – A Conspiracy of Silence (Nick Anderson – Houston Chronicle, 9/14/2014)
    Chronicle cartoonist Nick Anderson spent months researching the San Jacinto River wast pits and how they affect the residents of the immediate area and the entire Houston community. The result is equal parts editorial cartoon, investigative journalism and graphic narrative. This cartoon brings a close look at the lawsuit Harris County filed against the Potentially Responsible Parties.
    http://blog.chron.com