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Thursday, September 25, 2014
WVWA Fall Membership Event this Saturday, September 27th
Hill Country Alliance News 09.23.14
Water Crisis: Time to Get Serious!
September 23, 2014
Last week’s “Water Crisis” event hosted by The Hays County Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development
(CARD) drew a huge crowd and continues to create meaningful
conversations about how rural lands west of I-35 will be developed.
CARD advocates that responsible, sustainable development within western
Hays County be concentrated along established growth corridors, ie:
I-35, Hwy 130, FM 46, US 290 and US 281. They also recommend that the
interior of Hays and northern Comal Counties remain at rural densities.
CARD’s intention was to bring people together for a
serious and respectful conversation about serious water issues that will
determine the future of Hill Country development.
The backdrop consists of simmering controversies such
as the over-pumping of the Trinity Aquifer, the legal separation between
groundwater and surface water, the importation of water from the east
to fuel development along the I-35 corridor, and the failure of the TCEQ
to create adequate aquifer protection in this highly stressed area.
These controversies coupled with Central Texas’
spiraling growth and the inability of Texas counties to contribute to
significant land planning are the driving forces that led CARD to call
this “Water Crisis” Summit and to lay the groundwork for future dialog
and action.
CARD invited a panel of speakers to present their
vision of the state of water to the public in Wimberley, Texas. The
panel included Andy Sansom of the Meadows Center for Water and the
Environment, Hays County Commissioner Ray Wisenant, Peter Newell, of HDR
Engineering (planning consultant for the San Antonio and Blanco River
Basins - Region L), and SAWS’ (San Antonio Water Supply) COO, Steve
Clouse.
Presentations relied on the suppositions that the I-35
growth corridor will continue to grow at an exponential rate without
limitation westward into the Hill Country, and without regard to
advanced conservation strategies and low impact development strategies
that can and should be part of the equation. The proposal that SAWS and
the Hays County Commissioner’s Court are presenting is to import at
least 141,000 Acre-Feet (about 46 Billion gallons) per year, every year,
from our neighboring counties to the east over the Carrizo-Wilcox
Aquifer. Landowners to the east strongly object to this volume of water
moving out of their area.
HCA views water transfers as something to take
seriously and avoid without full comprehension and assurance that the
sending basin isn’t compromised simply to benefit another basin’s
unbridled growth.
HCA also recognizes and struggles with the fact that
here in the Hill Country (and all of Texas) we do not have the ability
to practice land development/land-use planning outside of our
municipalities or on a large landscape scale. The result is that
infrastructure proposals such as these actually become the region's
land-use plan by default. Every pipeline that stretches outside of a
city, leads sprawling development further away from existing urban
infrastructure. Who exactly will this new supply serve, at what cost,
and at whose expense?
A prosperous Hill Country economy is achievable with
careful planning and sustainable supply solutions. We need to embrace
the idea that our growth needs must be met without over-drafting our
resources - and that means financial resources as well as natural
resources. Just as Hill Country ranchers have known for generations,
this landscape has a carrying capacity that must be calculated and
honored.
CARD’s leadership continues to provide the Hill
Country with well-reasoned planning input and thoughtful forums in which
the community has the ability to participate and make a difference.
Their website is a valuable resource, and contains an event summary with
links to each of presentations from the Summit.
As a counterpoint, or perhaps an expanded point, Linda Curtis from Independent Texans had this to say:
WELL MEANING PEOPLE CAN STILL POISON YOUR WELL
Thursday night, I attended a forum in Hays County put
on by the Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development (CARD). I have
good friends in CARD and I know they mean well. I also believe they had
no intention of letting this happen. Nevertheless, I want to tell you
what I think – me, Linda Curtis. The League of Independent Voters will
have its own response to my report soon.
What went down is that local Hays County
Commissioners, Will Conley and Ray Whisenant, together with San Antonio
Water Systems (SAWS) Senior VP CEO Steven Clouse, stole the show
peddling their respective plans to drain the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer and
its deep Simsboro formation in rural counties just east of Austin where I
happen to live.
The confusing blather of the Hays County Commissioners
– which might explain why so many people just up and left before the
end – had many scratching their heads. But it was the scientists on the
panel who really got to me. They began with a conclusion. The conclusion
is that our growth rate in central Texas will continue for decades,
ignoring the basic truism we all learn in Biology 101, expressed in the
graph below. We put this together for our friends in Austin who are
choking on out-of-control growth and its intimate partner –
unaffordability.
In other words, dear Hays County friends, we Central
Texans are on an unsustainable path. But you already know this. So why
was this perspective not represented at the CARD event? I really don’t
know. But I think Hays Countians need to hear another viewpoint and some
basic facts.
It is important that you understand that the projects
being sold to you on Thursday night represent a virtual siege by water
marketers and some municipalities on the aquifer east of Austin – the
Simsboro formation of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer under Burleson, Milam,
Lee and Bastrop counties. It is a fact that you cannot effectively
evaluate the effect of one project on the aquifer without acknowledging
the total projected pumping on the same aquifer.
It surprised me that no one from Hays County took on
their Commissioners for using taxpayer dollars for a “reservation
agreement” with Forestar Real Estate Group for 45,000- acre-feet
per year, after the Lost Pines District granted Forestar a more
reasonable 12,000 acre-feet permit based on a desire not to mine (and
harm) the Simsboro. That’s almost 14 billion gallons per year compared
to a little less than 4 billion gallons --- however, 4 billion gallons
is estimated to serve up to 35,000 homes.
Hays County has no way to deliver, much less need for,
water for 125,000 homes until maybe 2060! What’s more, ask the Hays
Trinity Groundwater Conservation District that represents you if they
would ever agree to the amount of drawdown on your aquifer being forced
on us out here east of Austin. (Yours is approximately 30 feet, ours is
200+ feet drawdown “average”, which means much higher drawdowns near the
mega-well fields themselves.) I think the answer is likely not just no,
but hell no!
Forestar is suing not only the Lost Pines GCD, but
each of our volunteer board members individually, no doubt using Hays
County dollars for their litigation kitty. Are these the kind of people Hays County citizens want their tax dollars supporting? I doubt it. But no one peeped a word.
There’s also water marketer, End Op, LP, owned by
former Williamson County Commissioner, Frankie Limmer, a notorious good
ole boy. End Op is trying to secure a permit from Lost Pines GCD for 46,000 acre-feet from the same aquifer.
The most imminent contract for Simsboro water is the Vista Ridge Project for 50,000 acre-feet
brokered between SAWS and a consortium of the Spanish-based Abengoa
Water USA and Austin-based Blue Water Systems. Post Oak Savannah
Groundwater Conservation District (Milam and Burleson counties), just to
the north and east of the Lost Pines District, has already approved a
permit for Blue Water totaling 71,000 acre-feet
that will be used for the SAWS project as well as for the SR 130
corridor, much to the chagrin of Milam and Burleson County landowners,
businesses and newly arrived board members of Post Oak GCD who are just
realizing that they’ve been had. That’s right. It’s the same aquifer
that Lost Pines is getting sued out the ying-yang for trying to protect.
The SAWS Vista Ridge deal may well be inked on
September 22, but it must be approved by the San Antonio City Council.
This was really why I attended the Hays County meeting. I went there to
ask for help from our Hays County friends to appeal to the San Antonio
officials to put a stop to this.
If we, together, can bust the SAWS Vista Ridge deal,
this will be a signal to the Hays County Commissioners Court and
municipalities along the IH-35 corridor to take their foot off the
growth pedal by continuing to enable real estate developers building in
areas without adequate local water supply. If we unite as a
region, we can do powerful things. If we don’t, the SAWS deal is likely
to be the beginning of the end of groundwater sustainability for us all.
It Will Take an Insane Amount of Rain Before the Highland Lakes Recover | StateImpact Texas
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Photo courtesy of the LCRA......Lake Travis is heading
towards its lowest levels in history if we have a dry fall.
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September 19, 2014 | 11:32 AM
By Terrence Henry
Central Texas is having a pretty decent year, rain-wise. We’re sitting just below normal. And it’s been a good week, too: early Thursday, one part of Austin got over seven inches of rain.So much rain fell over downtown Austin that the statue of Stevie Ray Vaughan along Lady Bird Lake looked like he was walking on water. It brought back memories of the Halloween floods last fall — back then Stevie was standing in water waist-deep. But these big rain events all have something in common: They really haven’t fallen where we need them most.
“The watershed that helps our water supplies isn’t here in Austin; it’s way up into the counties to the north of us. It’s the drainage that goes into Lakes Buchanan and Travis,” says John Hofmann, Executive Vice President of Water for the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).
Hofmann says while the areas around the lakes got some decent rain earlier this summer, other than that it’s been pretty dry up there. So while Lake Austin is getting doused, the creekbeds that go into the Highland Lakes can stay relatively dry. Lake Travis has risen over a foot this week, and could go up another foot today. But it’s still nearly 40 feet below where it should be, and lower than it was a month ago.
And it’s not just where the water is falling that’s preventing the lakes from recovering. It’s the condition of the ground that it’s falling on.
If the ground is dry, it can soak that rain right up.
“You know, the water falls from rain. Some of it runs off into the reservoir, some of it recharges the groundwater. But a lot of it stays right near the surface. And it’s taken up by the plants. Or it just evaporates,” says Michael Young, an Associate Director at UT’s Bureau of Economic Geology.
“Even though 2014 so far has been near-normal precipitation or maybe a couple of inches behind,” Young says, “we’re getting no response from the reservoirs, and it’s because most of the water is soaking into the soil.”
Young is part of a team working on tools to better track soil moisture levels. He estimates that water lost from the soil could account for anywhere from 20 to 80 percent of the water losses during 2011, the driest year in Texas history.
“Outside of precipitation, [soil moisture] is one of the most important components of the water balance in this state,” Young says. “And we don’t know what that component is. It’s a complete black box across the state.”
Those water losses to dry soil continue today. “The first inch or two of rainfall in most of these events that we’ve had scattered around the summer are immediately soaked up by the soil,” says Hofmann with the LCRA. The rain this week has basically bought Central Texas a few weeks of water supply, he says.
All of this adds up to a struggling reservoir system for Central Texas. If you look at the water levels of Lake Travis over the years and graph them out, it’s almost like a heartbeat monitor. And starting in the mid-2000s, the lake looks likes it could use some life support.
If we have a dry fall, the Highland Lakes could reach their lowest levels by the end of December, and that would mean that from a reservoir standpoint, this drought is worse than the drought of record in the fifties.
So what would it take to bring the lakes back?
“A series of rain events that would result somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 inches of rainfall, widespread throughout that area, before we could see real meaningful improvement in our supplies,” says Hofmann with the LCRA.
There is a silver lining, however. Even though the lakes aren’t recovering yet, rainfall over the city still helps reduce the demands on them. It cools things down, reducing evaporation; it increases soil moisture, setting the stage for better runoffs next time it rains; and hopefully it keeps you from watering your lawn.
“We’re all optimistically watching the skies right now,” Hofmann says.
Mose Buchele contributed reporting.
Gov. Jerry Brown signs historic groundwater management legislation in California
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| Steve Arthur's crew works drilling a well for farmer Juan Carrera that will provide water for his orange grove in Terra Bella, Calif. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times) |
contact the reporter
"This is a big deal," Brown said at a signing ceremony in the Capitol. "It's been known about for decades that underground water has to be managed and regulated in some way."
Since the state's founding, water has been considered a property right; landowners have been able to pump as much water from the ground as they want. But increasing reliance on underground water, particularly during droughts, has led to more pumping from some basins than what is naturally being replaced.
Some areas already have begun managing their groundwater sources, but other key basins remain unregulated.
Even with the management structure in place, experts say it could be decades before the state's most depleted basins recover.
The regulatory plan signed by Brown is broken up into three bills: SB 1168 by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) instructs local agencies to create management plans. A measure by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento), AB 1739, establishes when the state government can intervene if the local groups don't sufficiently do their job.
A third measure, SB 1319, also by Pavley, seeks to allay some concerns of farmers by postponing the state's action in certain places where surface water has been affected by groundwater pumping.
Brown touted the plan's emphasis on local agencies, which he described as "pushing the responsibility to where people really are."
He insisted his administration and lawmakers did not "shove aside those who were not totally comfortable" while crafting the legislation.
"We've made some concessions, we've taken into account concerns that farmers throughout California have," he said, adding "we've gone as far as we thought was appropriate" to address those concerns.
But many agriculture interests remain staunchly opposed to the bill. Paul Wenger, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation, said the bills "may come to be seen as 'historic' for all the wrong reasons" by drastically harming food production.
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said the legislation did not go far enough in protecting local interests because the state can step in to enforce regulation.
"Waiting in the wings is the all-powerful reach of state government," Patterson said in an interview. "That should scare anybody.
"There's really going to be a wrestling match over who’s going to get the water," Patterson said, predicting the regulation plans will bring a rash of lawsuits.
Groundwater will likely remain on the agenda for the Legislature next year. In a signing statement, Brown indicated he would also propose legislative tweaks next session to streamline the process in which courts determine groundwater rights.
Follow @melmason for more on California government and politics.
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times
Trend Of Land Fragmentation, Rural Loss Continues In Texas
Livestock WeeklySeptember 18, 2014Trend Of Land Fragmentation, Rural Loss Continues In TexasBy John BradshawLUBBOCK — Land fragmentation has been a growing problem for Texas, and by all appearances it isn’t going to slow any time soon. The state’s population continues to grow rapidly, and those residents have an insatiable appetite for land.Todd Snelgrove brought some facts and figures on fragmentation trends to a recent landowner forum presented by Texas Agricultural Land Trust. Snelgrove, who is with the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, began by talking about the state’s continued population growth.In 1997 there were 19 million Texas residents. Today that number has climbed to 26 million.“That’s a 36 percent increase, or about 500,000 new Texans every year,” Snelgrove said.Of that increase, 63 percent moved to 10 counties, which are all around Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.“There has been massive population growth over the last 15 years in those areas,” he said.Looking at the top 25 most-populated counties, in 1997 there were 13 million residents. Now there are 19 million.“We’re seeing the sprawl,” Snelgrove said.It thundered outside just as he said this, and Snelgrove remarked that it was a sign of impending doom.Those top 25 counties represent only 10 percent of the total acreage in Texas but hold three-fourths of the state’s population.In 1997 the highest-value land was concentrated in the close vicinity of the large cities, but since then the market value of land surrounding those cities for some distance has increased dramatically.“It is expanding out into traditional rural counties,” Snelgrove said.In the last 15 years one million acres of what is considered open space were lost to fragmentation. Much of that occurred during a nationwide economic boom.However, from 2007-2012 the trend slowed considerably due to the economic recession.“We’re still losing open space land, but not quite as quickly as we did in the previous decade,” he said.There has been a significant increase in the number of farms of fewer than 500 acres over the last 15 years surrounding Dallas and Houston.“That is a massive indication of ownership fragmentation,” Snelgrove said.Those small farms are coming from the fragmentation of tracts in the 500-2000 acre class.However, in areas where profitability from land ownership has been high over the last 15 years, where someone can make a living from their land, there has been some consolidation of smaller tracts into larger holdings.Areas around Lubbock have been consolidating, as are some areas in South Texas. It’s too early to tell, but Snelgrove said his gut is saying that as landowners continue to receive financial benefits from oil and gas production there will be an increase in consolidation in those areas.“I think in this next generation of land trends, looking from 2012 to 2017, we’ll see an increase in consolidation in those areas that have reaped the benefits, like the Eagle Ford Shale and the Permian Basin,” he said.The upturn in oil and gas will cause more fragmentation near the cities, though, as more companies and people move to Texas.“If you’re living near any of the major transportation corridors through the middle part of the state, those rural lands are going to be under extreme pressure.”Although there has been consolidation in a few select areas around the state, the majority has continued to be broken up. Areas where it is particularly evident are along the Gulf Coast and through the Edwards Plateau, Rolling Plains and into East Texas.Looking at the future, the increasing population coupled with the economic rise should trigger an acceleration of open space decline, Snelgrove predicted. It is projected that by 2040 the population of Texas will reach 36 million.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Neighbor to Neighbor News Pass it on...Hill Country News
Aquifer is No Quick Fix for Central Texas Thirst
Water marketers who want to sell to cities say there’s plenty of groundwater, however landowners and conservationists warn that this precious resource could drain in a few decades. What’s the long-term impact on the Colorado River as the groundwater table declines? Who exactly is this water for and what are they willing to pay? Neena Satija, Texas Tribune.
Where is the Hill Country?
ACC Professor Don Jonsson takes an interesting look at various degrees of consensus about what geography is included in the “Hill Country.” His data shows Luckenbach as generally the mean center of the region and the Pedernales River Basin 100% Texas Hill Country. View his project findings, map and summary. HCA has a plethora of helpful Hill Country map resources available online and as well as an interactive map viewer.
Wild Pigs!
Landowner groups and Wildlife Coops – Here’s something worth passing along to your member lists. Wild Pigs are an issue throughout the Hill Country region. Here’s an opportunity to learn from the comfort of your own ranch/home computer. Dial in September 18th to from noon to 1:00. Find out how to access this webinar made possible by the Texas Wildlife Association.
No Land. No Water.
As the current drought reminds us, water continues to impact the sustainability and growth of Texas' economy. Unfortunately, land is disappearing faster than in any other state, threatening the water resources on which our economy depends. Land conservation is a cost-effective water resource protection strategy. Join TALT October 1st in Austin.
"I’m a NIMBY and proud"
“The effects of population growth on traffic are easy to understand. More people equal more cars on the road. More cars on the road equal more congestion. Duh! The real culprit is the rate at which new people are moving here.” Read one bold Austinite's views (who happens to also be a Real Estate Developer) about the real issue facing Austin (and the Hill Country) population. Ed Wendler, Special to the Austin American Statesman.
As the current drought reminds us, water continues to impact the sustainability and growth of Texas' economy. Unfortunately, land is disappearing faster than in any other state, threatening the water resources on which our economy depends. Land conservation is a cost-effective water resource protection strategy. Join TALT October 1st in Austin.
"I’m a NIMBY and proud"
“The effects of population growth on traffic are easy to understand. More people equal more cars on the road. More cars on the road equal more congestion. Duh! The real culprit is the rate at which new people are moving here.” Read one bold Austinite's views (who happens to also be a Real Estate Developer) about the real issue facing Austin (and the Hill Country) population. Ed Wendler, Special to the Austin American Statesman.
Fall Camping Workshops Announced for Outdoor Families
With cool weather around the corner, the Texas Outdoor Family program has scheduled outdoor recreational workshops statewide though the beginning of December. The workshops offer a low-cost weekend trip where families can un-plug, reconnect with nature, and learn the basics of camping. Read more from Texas Parks and Wildlife.
With cool weather around the corner, the Texas Outdoor Family program has scheduled outdoor recreational workshops statewide though the beginning of December. The workshops offer a low-cost weekend trip where families can un-plug, reconnect with nature, and learn the basics of camping. Read more from Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Interested in getting more actively involved in HCA?
Join
HCA leaders and volunteers as well as invited elected officials, GCD
board members, landowners and conservationists for a day dedicated to
vibrant towns, healthy landscapes, protected natural water systems and
people making a difference in our Hill Country. HCA Leadership Summit,
September 25th at the Admiral Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg. Space is
limited Register today.
Upcoming Events
September
September 17 in Lakeway - Water Matters by Central Texas Water Coalition - Details
September 18 in Austin - The Barstow Speakers Series: Wat're the possibilities? Strategies to Reduce the Strain on the Colorado River - Details
September 17 in Lakeway - Water Matters by Central Texas Water Coalition - Details
September 18 in Austin - The Barstow Speakers Series: Wat're the possibilities? Strategies to Reduce the Strain on the Colorado River - Details
September 20 in Fredericksburg - Fredericksburg Shines 2nd Annual Sustainability Green Homes Tour - Details
September 22 in Kerrville - Monthly meeting of the Texas Master Naturalists - Topic: Hill Country Land Trusts, Speaker: Bill Lindemann, Vice President of Hill Country Land Trust - Details
September 22 in Kerrville - Monthly meeting of the Texas Master Naturalists - Topic: Hill Country Land Trusts, Speaker: Bill Lindemann, Vice President of Hill Country Land Trust - Details
September 25 in Fredericksburg - Hill Country Alliance Leadership Summit - Details
September
26 in Kerrville - 2014 New Landowner Series: Back to Basics, Home
Gardening, Chickens, Natural vs. Organic - Presented by the Texas
A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Details
September 26-28 in Belton - Renewable Energy Roundup - Details
September 27-28 in Boerne - Texas Hydro-Geo Workshop - Details
September 27-28 in Boerne - Texas Hydro-Geo Workshop - Details
September
28 in Austin - 7th Annual Celebration of Children in Nature - Hosted by
The Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin and the Westcave Outdoor
Discovery Center - Details
October
October 1 in Austin - No Land, No Water: Tools & Strategies for Conserving Land to Protect Water Resources - Presented by Texas Agricultural Land Trust - Details
October 1 in Austin - No Land, No Water: Tools & Strategies for Conserving Land to Protect Water Resources - Presented by Texas Agricultural Land Trust - Details
October 8 in San Antonio - Water Forum V: A regional forum on our future - Details
October 16 in Boerne - Hill Country Agri-land workshop - Details
October 17-19 in Alpine - Society for Ecological Restoration Annual Conference: Ecological Restoration in the Southwest - Details
October 24 in Utopia - Stars over Utopia - Learn how to protect our night skies and do some stargazing - Details
October 25 in Dripping Springs - HCA's 5th Annual Rainwater Revival! - Details
October 17-19 in Alpine - Society for Ecological Restoration Annual Conference: Ecological Restoration in the Southwest - Details
October 24 in Utopia - Stars over Utopia - Learn how to protect our night skies and do some stargazing - Details
October 25 in Dripping Springs - HCA's 5th Annual Rainwater Revival! - Details
Aquifer is No Quick Fix for Central Texas Thirst by Neena Satija
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land he owns in Bastrop County. He is contesting a water
marketer's bid to pump about 15 billion gallons a year from the Carrizo-Wilcox
Aquifer in Bastrop County, saying the plan would devalue his property.
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Water marketers, who bundle groundwater rights and sell the water to cities, say the region’s Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer holds hundreds of trillions of gallons of water. They say that is enough water to sustain growth for centuries in areas around Austin, whose reservoirs are only 34 percent full, and San Antonio, whose own aquifer is at such low levels that federally protected species are at risk.
But those who live above the Carrizo-Wilcox in rural Central Texas counties tell a different story, along with some environmental advocacy groups. They say bids from three prospective water providers to pump a combined 50 billion gallons of water a year from the aquifer will accommodate urban growth at the rural counties’ expense and drain a precious resource within just a few decades.
Scientists say determining who is right depends on the answers to a few key questions: Who is the water for? How much is the user willing to pay to get it? And how much will that user compensate others who may no longer be able to access the water as a result?
“It’s not a matter of availability,” said James Beach, a hydrologist for the firm LBG-Guyton who studies the Carrizo-Wilcox for a groundwater management district, the Central Texas water provider Aqua and San Antonio’s water utility. “The volume of water is there. It’s more a question of impact,” and how to measure and deal with those impacts, he added.
For example, shallow farm wells could run dry because of other pumping unless their pumps are lowered — which could cost thousands of dollars. Most hydrologists say those wells would have to be deepened if proposals to remove large amounts of water from Burleson, Bastrop and Lee counties proceed.
But they also say that water companies can compensate landowners, pointing out that many — including mining companies and water utilities — have done so in recent decades across Texas and in other portions of the aquifer. The water marketer End Op, which hopes to pump about 15 billion gallons a year from underneath Bastrop County, has agreed to pay millions of dollars into a fund to help landowners who may have to lower their pumps.
Not everyone is satisfied by that response. “I think that’s just saying, ‘We’re going to throw money at this so that we can bankrupt the system and overpump it,” said Darwyn Hanna, whose family has owned land in Bastrop County for five generations. Hanna grows pecans and runs cattle on some of his 250 acres, and while he does not pump groundwater, he is contesting End Op’s permit because he believes it will devalue his land.
Even the water marketers themselves could run into trouble as the region continues to grow. Drilling in the deepest portions of the Carrizo-Wilcox should help minimize the impact on rural landowners with shallower wells, and water marketers argue that they only need to remove a small percentage of the total water believed to be stored in the aquifer.
But sustained groundwater removal from even the deepest portions will cause water levels there to decline, and lowering pumps will not always do the trick. Eventually, the user will have to drill more wells to continue removing water at the same rate, said Robert Mace, deputy executive administrator at the Texas Water Development Board, the state’s water planning agency.
“If you wanted to set out and drain 5 percent of the storage of the Carrizo, I think you could do it” and leave most of the aquifer intact, said Mace. “But would it be economical to do that?” Adding extra, deeper wells can be a significant expense, he said.
Aqua Water Supply Corporation, which sells Carrizo-Wilcox water to thousands of Central Texans, has already protested attempts by other marketers to pump from the aquifer, saying that they would impact its ability to provide water to its customers.
James Bene, a hydrologist who consults for BlueWater Systems, which hopes to pump 16 billion gallons a year from the Carrizo-Wilcox in Burleson County to sell to San Antonio said pumping by nearby users “a substantial risk for the financial backers of projects like this.”
“They’re trying to figure out what a good payback on a 30-year loan will be,” Bene said. “Well, that’s easier said than done when you’re not sure whether you’ll be pumping water from 100 feet below ground level or 300 feet below ground level. So nobody is really sure.” But, he added, “I can tell you that any reasonable designer of a well field builds in some safety margin.”
Another related concern for environmental advocates is the relationship between the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer and the Colorado River, whose flow has been at its lowest in decades. Studies show that the aquifer contributes some water supply to the river each year.
Modeling by George Rice, a former Edwards Aquifer Authority hydrologist, suggests that pumping by companies like End Op and BlueWater Systems could cause Carrizo-Wilcox to begin pulling water out of the river instead of putting water into it. That could cause further damage downstream to fishermen, who depend on the river’s freshwater flows for a steady supply of oysters and shrimp in Matagorda Bay. But no one has ever firmly established the relationship between the river and the aquifer.
“Give us a million dollars and give us a 20-year time to study it, and we’d come to an inconclusive result,” said Alan Dutton, a professor of hydrogeology at the University of Texas at San Antonio who has worked on state models of the aquifer. “The margin of error is much greater than the effects we’re trying to distinguish.”
There is also less funding for such research, and technical staff for groundwater modeling at the state water planning agency has been reduced by half.
“That’s going to be a political and socioeconomic issue in 30 years,” Bene said.
“Is the economic growth along the I-35 corridor worth a little bit extra drawdown for ranchers or farmers or landowners to the east? I can’t answer that,” Bene said. “But again, I can speak to the inevitability. We have no other source of water, really. We have to look to our major aquifers.”
Disclosure: The University of Texas at San Antonio is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
Houston Environmental News Update September 16, 2014
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Native Plants at Home and Garden Show
Community Notes
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Natural History and Aesthetics - Why Should We Care About Nature?
Harry
Greene, Ph.D., Cornell, Monday, September 22, 6:30 pm, Houston Museum
of Natural Science, Public $18, CEC members* $13, Museum members $12.
The diversity of life on Earth is under serious threats from multiple
human-related causes, and science plays well-known roles in addressing
management aspects of this problem. Dr. Harry W. Greene will describe
how natural history also plays a vital role in enhancing our
appreciation for organisms and environments, thereby influencing value
judgments that ultimately underlie all conservation. I will first
explain how an 18th century philosopher's distinction between "beauty"
and "sublime" can be used in the context of Darwin's notion of
"descent with modification," then illustrate this approach with frogs,
snakes, African megafauna, Longhorns, and California Condors. Dr. Harry
Greene is professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell
University. He is a popular author and will be signing copies of his
latest book Tracks and Shadows: Field Biology as Art following the
lecture. This lecture at the Houston Museum of Natural Science is
co-sponsored by Rice University's Glasscock School of Continuing
Studies. Register at hmns.org. * For discount code, CEC members should contact news@cechouston.org or call 713-524-4232. |
Double Bayou Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshop
The Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources | Texas Water Resources Instituteand the Double Bayou Watershed Partnership invite you to attend the Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshop on September 24, 2014 from 8am - 4pm at White's Park Community Building an Hankamer/Anahuac. Learn more about the riparian workshop, and register by Sept. 19, 2014. |
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. |
Coastal Resiliency Conference: Living on the Edge
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. |
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. |
Children's Environmental Health Institute's Scientific Symposium
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.
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Save the Date: Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo
Last
year, over 5,000 families, scouts, and adults attended the daylong
event. 150 educational booths, classes, hands-on clinic, exhibitors, and
activities on the campus of Lone Star College-Montgomery. Free. Visit expo.tamu.edu for more information and booth information. March 28, 2015. |
Additional Dates of Note
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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.
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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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News Headlines
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Houston getting $10 million for traffic tracking systems
(Houston Chronicle, 9/10/2014) An
ongoing project to expand and upgrade traffic systems in the Houston
area has received $10 million from a highly-competitive federal
transportation program, officials confirmed. Though it won't build a new
road or add another bus route, officials said the money will improve
traffic by bolstering Houston's transportation monitoring system, which
relays traffic information to drivers and helps city workers address
congestion. The money gives Houston officials another $10 million to
invest in work already going on around the area to upgrade or add
traffic monitoring data, city of Houston public works spokesman Alvin
Wright said.
http://blog.chron.com |
Houston offers sweet deal on park to Sugar Land
(Mike Morris - Houston Chronicle, 9/5/2014) In
the 25 years since the city of Houston and the Houston Parks Board
purchased Cullinan Park off Highway 6 near U.S. 90A, creating the city's
fourth-largest park, the site has languished. Far outside Houston city
limits next to Sugar Land Regional Airport, the park boasts just one
entrance road, some picnic tables, and a few hiking trails to complement
the wooden walkways overlooking White Lake, abuzz with dragonflies and
coated with lily pads. "This is a great resource out here, but it has a
long way to go before you can really call it a good all-purpose park,"
said Don Gallo, local resident and park regular. Houston is now
considering transferring responsibility for the park to the city of
Sugar Land.www.houstonchronicle.com |
Planning for future water use a conundrum for Houston
(Matthew Tresaugue - Houston Chronicle) Beneath
Houston, miles of the city's aging water mains are leaking billions of
gallons each year. The repairs will require years of work and millions
of dollars. So what's a city to do? Houston is raising the possibility
of a new rate structure as the city finalizes the first update to its
conservation plan since enduring the worst one-year drought in its
history in 2011.www.houstonchronicle.com |
More Headlines at Scoop.it
CEC has collected even more headlines at scoop.it.  |
Gre
en Jobs |
NEW! Nature Discovery Center seeks Executive Director
The
Executive Director of the Nature Discovery Center (NDC) is responsible
for managing all aspects of the Nature Discovery Center's operations
through strong, creative, and strategic leadership. The ED builds
consensus, stimulates staff development, and delivers results related to
the organization's mission and goals. The ED is responsible for
effective implementation of policies set by the Board of Directors as
well as annual goals and objectives related to fiscal management,
programming, and administration. For view the job description, visit www.cechouston.org. Learn more about the Nature Discovery Center at www.naturediscoverycenter.org. |
NEW! Artist Boat seeks Accounting Manager
The
Accounting Manager is primarily responsible for assisting the Executive
Director and Treasurer with the financial management of the
organization. The Accounting Manager is required to have a formal and
strong foundation in accounting, best practices in financial management,
grants management and grants reimbursements, and nonprofit accounting.
The purpose of this position is to provide the financial management
infrastructure to maintain and grow all programs, track and report on
all finances regarding grants and accounts, assure educational program
staff have the proper support for procurement of materials and equipment
needed for programs, assist the Executive Director with financial
management of all funds, and process payroll. The Accounting Manager
reports to the Executive Director, participates in the board of
directors' finance committee, and maintains a positive roll in
communicating with all members of the board of directors and staff. If
interested, submit resume, cover letter, and three professional
references via United States Postal Service to Karla Klay, Executive
Director, 2415 Avenue K, Galveston, Texas 77550. View the full job
description at www.artistboat.org. |
NEW! The Nature Discovery Center seeks Weekend Naturalist
The
Nature Discovery Center is looking for an energetic and enthusiastic
individual to join its education team: someone who loves science,
nature, and children. This part-time position manages the weekend
operations of the Center, with a focus on visitor services and
education. Major responsibilities include: oversee the Center on
Saturdays & Sundays, 9am-5:30pm (flexible); provide interactive,
hands-on experiences in our science-based Discovery Rooms; update
materials and curriculum in the Discovery Rooms as needed, with
additional staff support; conduct birthday party programs with nature
themed topics; conduct nature experiences such as nature walks and
talks, as needed; manage weekend volunteers; manage animal care; and be a
crucial member of the team, attending staff planning meetings as
available. To apply for the Weekend Naturalist position, please provide a
short cover letter and resume to Anne Eisner, Program Coordinator, at
aeisner@naturediscoverycenter.org. Learn more about the Center at naturediscoverycenter.org. |
NEW! Cypresswood Water Conservation Garden seeks Part-time Webmaster
This part-time position would be the webmaster for the Water District andCypresswood Water Conservation Garden. Requirements include being acreative
individual who is willing to think outside the box when it comes to web
design and educating John Q. Must have interest in water
conservation/healthy soil nexus, and a background in environmental
awareness, biology, water conservation, soil conservation critical. 3+
years professional experience in web development/management is
preferred. Applicants must provide a portfolio with examples of
past work on multiple sites, advanced working knowledge of multiple web
CMS software systems (special consideration given to candidates who are
adept in WordPress). Applicants must also have expert experience with
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript/jQuery and SQL, as well as a basic
understanding/familiarity with XML, HTML5, CSS3, ASP.NET, PHP (for
WordPress) or other programming technologies. Experience with Adobe
Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator a plus. Send resumes and questions to Gary Toll at gtoll@wcid132.com or Jim Dow at jdow@wcid132.com. Learn more about the Cypresswood Water Conservation Garden at www.cwcgtx.com. |
NEW! Southern Alliance for Clean Energy seeks Solar Power Program Manager & Energy Policy Staff (Tennessee)
The
successful candidate will have several years of experience working on
policy, development or procurement of solar power in the electric power
sector. The applicant must demonstrate solid skills in
most of the following areas: writing, public speaking, analytic and
computer applications. Experience with state agencies, decision-makers, media, or non-profit advocacy necessary. More info at cleanenergy.org. |
 The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) seeks a full-time Grants Billing Specialist to fulfill reimbursement billing duties related to GBF's government grants, accounts payable, and accounts receivable as a member of the Administrative Team. Qualifications include a bachelor's degree in Accounting (received or in progress), ability to pass an intermediate level accounting test, and experience with QuickBooks financial software (preferred, not required). For a full job description, including duties and qualifications, please visit the GBF website. To apply, please e-mail resume by September 19 to jtownsend@galvbay.org. |
BikeHouston
seeks three new staff members: Development Director, Director of
Government and Community Affairs, and Marketing/Communication Associate
Development: This
person will lead the development effort and build a multi-faceted
approach to raising income to support our programs and advocacy work.
They will have an entrepreneurial style and build a dynamic development
program to diversify and expand BikeHouston's revenue. The primary
responsibilities will be to secure new foundation grants and corporate
sponsorship, and increase the number of individual donors and members.
Additional responsibilities will include growing our membership as well
as convert members into donors. The new staffer will bring structure,
systems, creativity, positive energy and a track record of fundraising
to the job. Government & Community Affairs: The position is responsible for identifying, monitoring and shaping policy initiatives within the city and county governments, management districts and super neighborhoods which relate to the BikeHouston mission. S/he helps communicate and advance the mission and goals to governmental programs through direct engagement with the Mayor's office, City Council Members, COH Health Department, Parks & Recreation Department, the Planning Department, and Houston Police Department, as well as related regional governmental and non-governmental organizations.The position is also responsible for identifying and securing public funding and monitoring policy initiatives within the city, state and federal levels of government, with the support of the Director of Development. Marketing/Communications Associate:The position begins as soon as possible and ends after 4 months, when an evaluation of eligibility for a renewal may be considered. You'll be expected to ask a lot of questions, but also to think independently. There's not a lot of room for passivism. You'll need to be proactive and pretty on top of your day-to-day to succeed here. The benefit of this is that this position can be as big or small of an experience as you let it. The position begins as soon as possible and ends after 4 months, when an evaluation of eligibility for a renewal may be considered. You'll be expected to ask a lot of questions, but also to think independently. You'll need to be proactive and pretty on top of your day-to-day to succeed here. The benefit of this is that this position can be as big or small of an experience as you let it. The positions will remain open until filled. The positions may be full or part-time. Substantial flexibility around working hours and vacation may be offered for outstanding candidates. The positions do require some work on weekends and during the evenings given the stakeholders we serve. Complete job descriptions are available at www.bikehouston.org/jobs/. |
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Nature Tourism Program seeks Associate
Associate
will act as on site manager and Assistant to the Director. In this
capacity the Extension Associate will provide day to day management of
the Long Acres Ranch Nature Center property and programs. All programs
and development of new programs and facilities will be guided by an
existing plan of action developed as part of the service contract with
the foundation that owns Long Acres Ranch and is supporting this
project. This person will be responsible
for implementing the existing action plan, leading tours and education
programs, recruiting and managing volunteers and potentially future
paid staff as hiring becomes feasible. This person will be responsible
for budgets and community relations, on going data collection, visitor
evaluations and regular activity reports. This person will work closely
with the Fort Bend County Extension office staff to support 4H Youth
Natural Resource program, Adult volunteer programs and natural resource
educational programs. Please fill out the online form to apply.
|
Memorial Park Conservancy seeks Administrative Assistant
The
Administrative Assistant position for Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC)
provides administrative support to the office, with a focus on
supporting the Executive Director. This position manages and maintains
the Executive Director's schedule, and supports all office and
administrative functions and programs. The Administrative Assistant
provides support to the Board of Directors and committees as determined
by the Executive Director. Essential job functions include: creating and
modifying meeting notifications, and sending and responding to
invitations; attending Board and select committee meetings, taking
minutes, and preparing final summaries; answering and returning phone
calls and emails; greeting visitors and providing general information
about the organization; routing, managing, and preparing responses to
public inquiries and requests; and more. If interested, submit resume,
two writing samples, and one letter of reference to
info@memorialparkconservancy.org. Full job description: MPC Administrative Assistant. |
Houston Audubon seeks Development Administrative Assistant
The
mission of Houston Audubon is to advance the conservation of birds and
positively impact their supporting environments. Our vision is the
creation of a healthier, natural environment and more beautiful place to
live by leading and nurturing a community which values and supports
birds. The Development Administrative Assistant (the Admin) provides
critical office support to the Development Department. Advance the
mission of Houston Audubon by executing a high level of donor and member
related services by providing essential administrative support
including data entry and external correspondence. The Admin is
responsible for data entry as it pertains to gifts processing, providing
all donors and members with formal receipts, gift acknowledgements,
welcome packets, written correspondences, general service calls and
performing other administrative tasks as needed. This position reports
to the Development Director and will remain open until filled. Essential
duties include: carrying out all aspects of development administrative
work including data entry, basic record keeping, research, reporting,
mailing/emailing correspondence and from time to time calling
constituents; assisting with annual gala and other events as deemed
appropriate by the Development Director; recommending member and annual
fund prospects to the Fund Development Officer and major gift prospects
to the Development Director; and working cooperatively and
collaboratively with all Houston Audubon staff, board, and volunteers in
the spirit of teamwork and mutual respect that complies with all
Houston Audubon policies. Full job description: Development Admin Asst Aug 2014. |
Travis Audubon (Austin, TX) seeks Executive Director
Travis
Audubon (Austin, Texas) is seeking a dynamic Executive Director to lead
the organization through a time of growth and change. Founded in 1952,
Travis Audubon promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation
of native birds and their habitats. The organization is an independent
chapter of National Audubon and serves over 1,200 members within a
four-county region consisting of Travis, Hays, Williamson, and Milam
counties. Travis Audubon owns and manages three nature preserves -
Baker (690 acres), Chaetura Canyon (10 acres), and Blair Woods (10
acres). With an annual budget of approximately $300,000, 3 full-time
and 3 contract staff, and scores of skilled volunteers, Travis Audubon
conducts both formal and informal programs in schools, public venues, at
events, and at its sanctuaries. Last year, the organization's vital
land conservation work, environmental education programs, and community
outreach influenced over 432,000 people. Executive Director duties
include, but are not limited to administration and management, policy
development, fund raising, strategic planning, public relations,
membership growth, financial health, and cultivating new and existing
funding and program opportunities. For more information about the
position: http://travisaudubon.org/job-opportunities. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter, including salary requirements, to ed@travisaudubon.org. Both documents are required and must be submitted in .doc or .pdf format. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. September 12, 2014. |
Hermann Park Conservancy seeks Horticulturist, Gardener, Irrigation Technician, Maintenance Coordinator, and Maintenance Staff.
The
McGovern Centennial Gardens (MCG) in Hermann Park will be a unique
display garden and destination, free to the public, open daily, and
available for special events on occasion. It is a place of beauty
designed to stimulate learning and a love of gardens in an urban
setting. Join a dedicated staff responsible for the daily operation of
the garden, to ensure the highest standards of landscape displays, and
to implement environmentally responsible maintenance practices.
Interested applicants should submit the following via e-mail to
jcurtis@hermannpark.org: (a) cover letter explaining interest in the
position, (b) current resume, and (c) two references including contact
information. No phone calls, please. Full job descriptions: http://www.hermannpark.org/employment-opportunities/. |
Air Alliance Houston seeks Texas Coal Organizer
Air
Alliance Houston (AAH) and Public Citizen are members of the Clean Gulf
Commerce Coalition (CGCC), which works to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and impacts to local communities and environments through a
reduction of coal exports in multiple U.S. Gulf Coast states. The
organizer will be based in Houston and will be an employee of Air
Alliance Houston. They will help build the grassroots movement within
Texas, and coordinate with the overall efforts of the Clean Gulf
Commerce Coalition. Responsibilities include: building grassroots
support against coal terminal expansions and against coal exports;
working with activists and elected officials to win state and local
support calling for a stop to coal terminal expansions, transportation
restrictions, and closure of existing facilities; organizing trainings
and convening stakeholders to present the cast to stop coal terminal
expansion and limit the transportation of coal in the state; and more. Applications
will be considered until the position is filled. Interested applicants
should send resume and cover letter to hiring@airalliancehouston.org.
Find the full description at http://airalliancehouston.org or Texas Coal Organizer job description. |
The Woods Project seeks Club Program Instructor
The Club Program extends The Woods Project mission (visit www.thewoodsproject.org for
more information) into the classroom building leadership and life
skills through hands-on projects and activities. Utilizing both
individual and team-based skills and frameworks, Club Program breaks
down outdoor, social, environmental, and scientific concepts into
exciting and hands-on units such as Leave No Trace, camping/backpacking
skills, local flora and fauna, conservation, governance, and
environmental science. Students participating in the club program are
highly encouraged and often required to attend weekend camping trips and
a two-week Summer Trip to a wilderness site such as Yosemite National
Park. The club program instructor will be responsible for representing
TWP and the mission as mentors and teachers for approximately 20
low-income, high school students per club; building and maintaining
yearlong mentor relationships with students; traveling to a school and
conduct clubs for an hour, sometimes longer; working with TWP curriculum
requirements and suggestions to adapt and deliver existing lesson
plans; and more. To apply please send cover letter and resume to
katie@thewoodsproject.org. View the full job description: 2014-15 Club Instructor Job Description. |
Urban Harvest Seeks After-School Garden Educators
Are
you passionate about growing healthy communities in urban areas? Have
you ever wanted to improve your vegetable gardening skills but wasn't
sure how? Do you have experience working with kids who might be just as
excited as you are about eating fresh from the garden? Do you have a few
hours a week to spend in a school garden with students? If you
answered, "yes" to any of these questions, then you're the type of
Garden Educator that our Youth Garden program likes to grow! This is a
part time contract position. Starting dates in August and September.
Training is included. Find the full job description at http://urbanharvest.org. Urban Harvest promotes healthy communities, sound nutrition and respect for the environment by educating children and adults and facilitating harvest and habitat gardens. |
Galveston Bay Foundation seeks Land Stewardship Specialist
The
Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) seeks a full-time Land Stewardship
Specialist to work within our Land and Habitat Conservation Program. The
Land Stewardship Specialist will provide assistance with and develop
land conservation transactions, update and implement habitat management
and stewardship plans, seek out and apply for habitat conservation and
management grants, monitor conservation easements and draft annual
reports, and assist with habitat restoration and enhancement projects.
Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in a field of study such as
environmental management, natural resources management, rangeland
management, wildlife biology, environmental law, or another related
field; a minimum of two years of professional experience; and a passion
for land conservation and habitat management. To view the job
description, including a full list of duties and qualifications, please
visit galvbay.org. |
Buffalo Bayou Partnership seeks Buffalo Bayou Park Maintenance Technician
The
Maintenance Technician performs many necessary functions. The skills to
keep machines, mechanical/motorized equipment, tools/devices and
structures in good repair and good working order by inspecting, testing,
repairing. Diagnose, correct and/or identify problems, malfunctions or
safety concerns. Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service
bulletins, and other specifications/regulations to problem solve. Have
the ability to determine the method of repairing or replacing
malfunctioning items that may be damaged. Identify unsafe components.
Ensure that all safety rules and regulations are followed involving all
machinery and equipment as well as other safety requirements of
regulatory agencies. Maintain a clean and orderly work area that
pertains to maintenance responsibilities. To apply, submit resume and
cover letter to Mr. Gregg Burks, Park Director / Buffalo Bayou
Partnership / 1113 Vine St, Suite 215 or to gburks@buffalobayou.org. Maintenance Technician 2014 Job Description |
Nature Discovery Center seeks part-time Bookkeeper
The
Nature Discovery Center is a non-profit organization with a mission to
ignite lifelong curiosity, understanding, and respect for nature through
education. This part-time position manages the financial and
administrative responsibilities of the Nature Discovery Center. For a
more detailed description of specific responsibilities, please visit www.naturediscoverycenter.org. To apply for this position, please send a brief cover letter and resume to Sarah Flournoy, Executive Director, or bring it by the Center in person 7112 Newcastle, Bellaire, TX 77401. |
Even More Jobs!
The following jobs have been featured in past newsletters, but are probably still open: |
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| 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 online at www.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. Sincerely, Rachel Powers, Executive Director Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor Stephanie Hernandez, Communications Coordinator www.facebook.com/cecHouston |
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and other leading environmental organizations participate in payroll
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Texas. Find out how you can support CEC at 800-GREENTX or www.earthshare-texas.org. |
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