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May 2016 Edition
General Meeting May 12, 2016
If you've been curious about solar power options for your home, but are concerned about the initial infrastructure costs, our May 12 Sierra Club meeting is for you! Steve Krebs, from Solarize Houston, will explain a new option Houstonians might consider - a group purchase of solar systems.
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Outings
For upcoming Outings information, visit one of the following:
Meetup
Outings Calendar
Your Letter Needed By May 9th About Texas Coast Study
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has published a "Notice of Intent" to prepare a "Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study" (Federal Register, March 31, 2016, Vol. 81, No. 62, pp. 18601 and 18602).
It is no exaggeration that the fate of our entire Texas natural coastline with important wildlife habitats hangs in the balance with regard to what this study recommends. Your personal letter is needed now so that the Corps hears "loud and clear" that the public wants its natural coastline, marshes, dunes, beaches, prairies, and wildlife habitats left unimpaired and undamaged from gigantic levees, gates, concrete walls, and other massive, structures. The message is, "Leave our natural coastal habitats alone and keep people out of harm's way."
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Sierra Club and Others Convince BLM to Withdraw Lease of Oil/Gas Lands on the National Forests in Texas, Lake Sites, and Other Texas Federal Lands
In February and April, the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Texas Conservation Alliance, Clean Water Action, Dallas Water Utilities, Highland Village, Flower Mound, Denton, Irving, Lewisville, The Colony, other cities and organizations, and thousands of people succeeded in getting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw from federal fossil fuel auction 31,169 acres of national forest land in Texas (including lands in Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and Sabine National Forests) and federal lands adjacent to or beneath Lewisville Lake, Somerville, Lake, Lake Conroe, and Choke Canyon Reservoir.
Outings Reports
It's the Wetlands, Stupid!
As we approached the I-45 bridge that crosses Galveston Bay and leads to Galveston Island I turned to Nancy and said, "See the Brown Pelicans flying back and forth across the bridge? It's like a "Pelican Highway" every day as they fly from morning to night".
Palmer Bayou Boardwalk Celebrated!
On March 17, 2016, 200 people celebrated the opening of the Palmer Bayou Boardwalk on the Knobbly Knees Trail in the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in Liberty, Texas at Liberty Municipal Park, which backs up to the Refuge. Lilibeth, David, and I went to celebrate and enjoy this happy occasion.
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Peach Creek Woods Creates Perfect Tree ID Day
Our three car caravan drove through Houston, up U.S. 59, past Kingwood, the habitat destroying Grand Parkway, New Caney, and Shepherd. We exited Fostoria Road, turned under U.S. 59, headed north, turned west on Morgan-Cemetery Road and drove about 3 miles to the yellow gate with the "Tree ID" sign.
Then we wound our way down small "woods roads", turned left, and came into the forest opening where the pavilion is located.