“‘Ghost Fishing’ is what fishing gear does when it has been lost, dumped or abandoned. Imagine a fishing net that gets snagged on a reef or a wreck and gets detached from the fishing vessel. Nets, long lines, fish traps or any man made contraptions designed to catch fish or marine organisms are considered capable of ghost fishing when unattended, and without anyone profiting from the catches, they are affecting already depleted commercial fish stocks. Caught fish die and in turn attract scavengers which will get caught in that same net, thus creating a vicious circle.” – ghostfishing.org In Read More »
Save the Date! Please join the Armand Bayou Nature Center’s Board of Trustees and sponsor San Jacinto College at PARTY FOR THE PLANET on Saturday evening, May 4th, 2019. You are invited to enjoy a catered dinner, live music by Andy and the Dreamsicles, dancing, charitable auctions and games. Armand Bayou Nature Center was founded in 1974 as a result of efforts begun by an environmental visionary, Armand Yramategui. Armand foresaw the urban growth around Armand Bayou and strove to have this land remain a wilderness. Armand’s tragic death in 1970 inspired a local, regional and national coalition of people Read More »
Christmas Bird Count December 15, 2018 through January 5, 2019 Please don’t forget to sign up for Christmas Bird Count at armandbayoucbc@gmail.com. This is not an Armand Bayou Nature Center event, but is done in partnership with Houston Audubon Society. The Audubon Society invites birders of all ages and skill levels to participate in this international event. Birders will rise with the sun and spend one day counting every bird they see. This is the largest avian census and not possible without volunteers just like you! They also need lots of feeder watchers within the circle so if you can’t Read More »
SSCI participated in the Second Annual Career Night at Pearland Junior High East (PJHE) on August 4, 2018. The PJHE Roughnecks invited presenters from a variety of backgrounds to discuss careers and educational paths with the 7th and 8th grade students. The students experienced exciting, hands-on learning while gaining an understanding of the educational steps needed to achieve their goals. SSCI presented a booth displaying sampling equipment, protective gear, and education materials. Students were able to ask questions from the SSCI staff such as, “Where can I study environmental science?” or “What kind of services do you provide?”. Read More »
SSCI participated in the 25th Annual Festival of Trees Gala at the Lakewood Yacht Club on December 6, 2018. Interfaith Caring Ministries (ICM) hosts the annual fundraiser to provide the necessary funds to support the outreach program for the Clear Lake community. The Gala included fundraising activities, a special invocation by Taylor Lake Christian Church, and a performance by Clear Lake High School’s ensemble choir, Soundwaves. SSCI’s team enjoyed the festivities and supported the charity with Helen Hodges, P.E., President, Jo Drake Keim, Vice President, Caitlin Tovar, Chemical Engineer, and Stacy Emerick, Administrative Manager in attendance.
El Lago Coffee Company Joe and Terry Butcher are the proprietors of local coffee roastery El Lago Coffee located in Seabrook, Texas. In an effort to reduce the impact of shipping coffee across the planet and pursue their love of sailing the pair took their sailboat’s maiden voyage to South America to pick up their first load of green, or raw, coffee beans for roasting back in the States. However, on their return journey the pair encountered a storm, forcing the proprietors to call the Coast Guard for rescue. The sailboat, and their caffeine-laden bounty, was lost to Read More »
SSCI provided maintenance activities to a damaged culvert owned by an HOA located in Dickinson, Texas (Site) where existing articulated concrete blocks (ACBs) were uplifted and separated during a Hurricane Harvey. This caused the subgrade to be eroded and a large hole to form at the base of the culvert. SSCI was able to mobilize quickly and efficiently to solve the problem. The work involved designing a new, more effective culvert layout that would significantly reduce erosion during large rain events. The following construction services were also completed during the remediation: Pumping of standing water in the washout area; Replacement Read More »
Martyn Farm Harvest Festival Saturday & Sunday November 10-11,2018 ~ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm LIVE DEMOS ~ FOOD ~ FUN ~ WAGON RIDES Step into the past and join SSCI at the Armand Bayou Nature Center’s 38th Annual Martyn Farm Harvest Festival! Learn about life on the Texas Gulf Coast Prairie and have some old-fashioned fun, including children’s games and crafts, a general store with homemade goodies, live demonstrations, handmade toys and crafts, wagon rides, music and dancers, butter-making with homemade biscuits, a pie-eating contest, food and drinks, baked goods, a raffle, and more! 38th Annual Martyn Farm Read More »
SSCI was in attendance at the annual League City Historical Living History Society’s Dinner; this year’s theme was “The Great War” (World War I). The Society is a non-profit organization that promotes and preserves the history of League City, Texas. It’s annual Living History Dinner is a fundraiser SSCI has supported for over a decade; proceeds benefit historical society projects like the “One-Room School House” and the West Bay Area Common School Children’s Museum. This year, the Silent Auction featured fine art by local artists, basket prizes and vintage architecture items; I won a special pet gift basket that included Read More »