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February 15, 2017

Houston Environmental News Update February 15, 2017

Scroll down to read notes from our member organizations and the community, or view the emailed version of the newsletter.

This week, we choose to highlight the Houston Bike Plan, which is set to go to council next week. With the recent deaths of two cyclists killed by trains, the Houston Bike Plan is even more relevant. In response to the recent deaths, Raj Mankad, Editor of Cite: The Architecture + Design Review of Houston, a publication of the Rice Design Alliance, recently penned “Want safer streets? Stop looking for a single answer,” which was published in the Houston Chronicles Gray Matter Blog.

Bike Houston Sprocket logoNext week, the Houston City Council is expected to consider approval of the Houston Bike Plan. Not surprisingly, perhaps the biggest advocate of the plan is Bike Houston. You can read Bike Houston’s take on the plan, and find out about how to ride to City Hall to provide input next Tuesday. (You can also join Bike Houston for their the first ever Houston Bike Summit on Feb. 27, 2017.)

Coincidentally, thirty years ago, on Feb. 16, 1987, at its monthly board meeting, the CEC discussed plans to develop comprehensive Houston Hike & Bike Trails. How far we’ve come; how far we have to go. Read more in the CEC Newsleaf from 1987.

CEC NOTES

Earth Day Houston 2017

Dozens of Earth Day festivals will be held throughout the Houston area in 2017. We have begun compiling a list of Earth Month events on our calendar.

If you are hosting an Earth Month event (or any environment-related event), please be sure to let us know so we can share it! Information can be sent to news@cechouston.org.

Don’t miss our Environmental Trivia Contest at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, to be hosted by the CEC as part of Earth Month Houston, on April 30, 2017. Tickets will be available soon.

The CEC is also gearing up for the following year’s Earth Day, and is recruiting members for our Earth Day Houston 2018 Planning Committee. To become a part of this exciting event, contact Rachel Powers, Executive Director, at 713-524-4232 or rachel@cechouston.org.

CEC Welcomes Two New Team Members: Marina Gliha Rossow and Bill Nguyen
Read more about our new part-time Program Director and Bookkeeping Intern, respectively. Keep an eye out for more announcements about people joining our team.

COALITION NOTES

  1. HISD Earth Day Call for Proposals
    Show us your skills at Houston ISD’s Earth Day Fair! Houston ISD is hosting an Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 22, 2017. The Fair is meant to a fun and interactive event that inspires environmental stewardship in our students, parents and employees. We are seeking proposals from groups that can provide kid-friendly activities, demonstrations, and “speedy green” demonstrations (15 minute max). If you or your group have a fun demonstration, craft, or activity that supports the Earth Day theme and would like to participate, please contact Debbie Reagan, Manager, Energy & Sustainability Department at dreagan@houstonisd.org for more information and a proposal submittal application. Proposals will be due no later than 5:00 PM, Feb. 17, 2017.
  2. Plans for the new Houston Botanic Garden
    On Feb. 22, 2017, Claudia Gee Vassar, interim executive director of the Houston Botanic Garden will speak about plans for the garden, which will be developed on a 120-acre site located on Sims Bayou in the Glenbrook area of Houston. Learn more about this event, organized by the Houston Native Prairies Association of Texas, on facebook.
  3. Texas Citizen Planner Foundations Course to begin Feb. 22
    The Texas Citizen Planner program has planned a six-class Foundations Course to help local elected and appointed officials learn ways to address issues facing their communities. Registration for the classes, which will be 6-8:30 p.m. weekly beginning Feb. 22, 2017, may be completed at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Citizen. The fee is $199 through Feb. 16 and $249 thereafter. Classes will be held at Houston-Galveston Area Council.
  4. Houston Climate Reality
    On Wed., Feb. 22 , 2017, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the Green Building Resource Center is partnering with US Green Building Council to discuss climate change. Where are we with Climate Change—is Houston threatened? It’s been a decade since An Inconvenient Truth.  What is the current truth?  Is anything less convenient here, other than massive flooding?John Nielsen-Gammon, the State Climatologist of Texas, will update us for the first hour on the climate data in the past ten years and how that is impacting Houston.  Then three speakers will present current slides from the Climate Reality Project, an organization dedicated to catalyzing a global solution to the climate crisis. For more information visit greenhoustontx.gov.
  5. Native Plant Propagation Day at the Greenhouse with Houston Parks and Recreation Department
    Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 9am to 12pm, join Houston Parks and Recreation Department’s Natural Resources Management Program and other volunteers including Texas Master Naturalists at the City’s greenhouse in Memorial Park to learn and participate in the native plant propagation program.  Learning opportunities abound as we seed, transplant and learn other propagation techniques for Houston’s native plants.  All the plants that are propagated to towards restoration projects throughout the city to help encourage wildlife habitat and education about Houston’s native plants and ecosystems as you volunteer.  Garden gloves are recommended, but not required.  Close toe shoes are required while volunteering.  Please contact Jed Aplaca at jed.aplaca@houstontx.gov or call 832-395-7113 for more information. Upcoming dates include Feb. 23, March 9 & 23, and April 13 & 27, 2017.
  6. H-GAC Glass Recycling Roundtable
    The next Regional Recycling Roundtable will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, at H-GAC. Presenters will examine the state of glass recycling from a variety of perspectives. H-GAC hosts quarterly Regional RecyclingRoundtables to promote recycling and waste reduction and provide a forum for discussion about recycling issues within the region. Register for this roundtable online.
  7. American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb
    On Sat., Feb 25, 2017, join a team from CEC, hosted by CEC board member Katie Donovan, to climb to the top of First City Tower. By joining the Fight for Air Climb, you are helping to make a positive impact in the lives of those affected by lung disease. You can learn more about the climb at lung.org.
  8. Houston Audubon Spring Volunteer Orientation
    Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, from 1 PM – 4 PM. Volunteer opportunities include:  Habitat Restoration at Houston Audubon Sanctuaries, Leading children’s programs as an Audubon docent, High Island Spring Migration, Festivals and Outreach booths, Annual Gala and Fundraising. Visit houstonaudubon.org for more information and to register.
  9. Full World: Houston’s Economic and Ecologic Future
    Former CEC Board Member, notable environmental attorney, and poet Jim Blackburn is teaching a short course through Rice Continuing Studies on the ecological and economic future of the City of Houston. The course will be held on eight Wednesdays between March 1 and April 19, 2017. Learn more about this not-to-be-missed class by downloading the flyer.
  10. Spring Creek Greenway Ambassador Training
    Volunteers needed year round to maintain the trails. You will receive wetland education, access points of Greenway, recognition of invasive species, and much more! Training is 5 weeks starting on March 30, 2017. Visit bayoulandconservancy.org for more information and to register.
  11. Parks Champion Joe Turner Retires
    The Houston Parks Board reported that, last Wednesday    , “Joe Turner, Director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and a dear friend to Houston Parks Board, announced his retirement. Throughout his tenure, Joe has been a true champion of parks and greenspaces across Houston. It has been our honor to work alongside Joe on numerous projects, especially Bayou Greenways 2020. His expertise, experience and enthusiasm will be greatly missed, and we wish him all the best in his retirement. Cheers to you, Joe!”
  12. Memorial Park Master Plan Update
    The first phase of the Memorial Park Master Plan continues with Eastern Glades development and the moving of East Memorial Loop Drive. Barrels have been placed in Memorial Drive in preparation for the construction of new turn lanes at the future intersection of Memorial Drive and East Memorial Loop Drive. East Memorial Loop Drive is being moved to the east to facilitate the development of the full Eastern Glades project. This is such an exciting time for YOUR Memorial Park!
    Learn more about the Eastern Glades and the Memorial Park Master Plan. 
  13. Artist Boat raises $1.4 million to conserve West Galveston Island Land
    Artist Boat has secured more than $1.4 million in federal, state and local funds and in-kind matches to acquire and conserve approximately 65 acres of coastal habitat on Galveston Island’s West End. The property is part of the 285-acre proposed Anchor Bay canal subdivision. The acquisition will expand Artist Boat’s Coastal Heritage Preserve conservation area to approximately 665 acres. Funding for the acquisition is made possible through a partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), which applied for and received $1 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program (NCWCGP).  Artist Boat rallied more than $400,000 of local contributions towards the project.  This is the second time TPWD and Artist Boat have partnered and successfully been awarded NCWCGP funds for acquisition at the Coastal Heritage Preserve. Artist Boat expects to complete the acquisition later this year after it raises the final $50,000 required for the project’s local match. Since 2009 the Galveston-based non-profit has acquired 600 acres of adjoining parcels for conservation with funding from the federal, state, local organizations and individuals. Once targeted for residential development, the wetland, coastal prairie and salt marsh habitats will be preserved for future generations. Artist Boat’s goal is to add the remainder of the Anchor Bay property, in cooperation with the landowner, once funding is obtained. Learn more at www.artistboat.org.
  14. Free Fourth Grade Field Trips!
    Are you a 4th grade teacher and want to get your kids outdoors, but the school lacks funds for field trips? Every Kid in a Park in the Houston area is offering FREE transportation for nature-based learning opportunities. Learn more at www.hereinhouston.org. Participating CEC member organizations include Buffalo Bayou Partnership, HPARD, Galveston Bay Foundation, Greens Bayou Coalition, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, Houston Audubon, Houston Zoo, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Nature Discovery Center, and  1/26/16, Sheldon Lake State Park.
  15. Additional Upcoming Events

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Building Better Cities
    The Kinder Institute for Urban Research presents a Kinder Institute Forum with Governor Martin O’Malley. Martin O’Malley served as the 61st governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015 and the 47th mayor of the city of Baltimore from 1999 until 2007. His time in office was marked by a steadfast commitment to data-driven decision-making. As mayor, he introduced CitiStat, a performance-based management system that produced dramatic improvements in city services and efficiency, and today, serves as a model for cities across the world. Wed, Feb. 15, 2017, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Learn more and reserve your spot at www.eventbrite.com.
  2. Levy Park Grand Opening
    Celebrate the grand (re) opening celebration of Levy Park. Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston cuts our ribbon at 11am. We will have live music, food trucks and great programming for the whole family all day long. A premium public green space in the heart of inner-city Houston, Levy Park is currently undergoing a complete renovation that will create an active and vibrant gathering place for the immediate community and an entertainment and recreation destination for the City of Houston. New park features include: performance pavilion, activity lawn, dog park, playground, community garden and more. Learn more at levypark.org.
  3. Journey of the Universe Kickoff
    Christ the King Lutheran Church invites you to go on the Journey of the Universe. This Emmy-award winning documentarynarrates the 14 billion year story of the universe’s development in a way that is accessible to everyone. This Educational Conversation Series will start on Feb. 27, 2017, and will continue most Mondays & Fridays thru Apr. 17, 2017. Learn more and register for individual events at Journey of the Universe.
  4. Trash Free Waters Webinar
    On February 28, 2017, at 12:00 pm, the EPA will be hosting its next Trash Free Waters webinar. Dr. Kara Lavender Law of the Sea Education Association will discuss the distribution of microplastics in the environment. The webinar can be accessed at http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/trashfreewaterswebinar/. Webinars, including the Jan. 31, 2017, webinar on plastics and microplastics by Dr. Chelsea Rochman, are recorded and made available after the webinar. One messages from the Jan. presentation is that while microplastics in and of themselves may have toxic constituents, they also absorb persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic compounds that can cause problems for the animals that ingest them.
  5. Galveston Bay Status and Trends Atlas updated
     Whether you live on the shore of the bay, Galveston Island, or on the west side of Houston, the Houston-Galveston region is defined by its coastal location and proximity to Galveston Bay. Certain aspects of Galveston Bay and the surrounding watershed can be examined to assess the overall health of the complex bay ecosystem – these are referred to as Indicators of Bay Health. Important indicators of bay health include water and sediment quality, populations of native and nonnative fish and wildlife, quantity and quality of diverse habitats, and the amount of freshwater flowing into the bay. Information describing the indicators of bay health is routinely gathered by many agencies and organizations at the federal, state, and local level. The Galveston Bay Status and Trends project gathers, manages, and analyzes the data and makes them available through one website. The GIS map has recently been improved and updated, and the Program invites you to explore the data available at www.texascoastalatlas.com.
  6. 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, 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.
    • San Pedro Success: Visit the San Pedro Ranch and see how they sustain diverse wildlife populations and a productive cattle herd.
    • Fishing Fan: Michael Homer helps make fishing easy and fun for both kids and adults.
    • Lovely Landscapes: Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine photographers share some of their favorite landscape images.
  7. Additional Upcoming Events