Houston Sierra Club Outings

This program requires advance registration at this Zoom link:
Meeting Registration - Zoom

May 8 Program Topic:
As the 2025 Texas Legislature approaches the final days of its regular session, the Sierra Club will be making a final push on key legislative priorities.

Visit the Sierra Club's Legislative Action Center webpage for ongoing developments: Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter 2025 Legislative Agenda | Sierra Club

Visit the Bill Tracker site for info on specific legislation:
Bill Tracker | Sierra Club

In 2025, we’re focused on safeguarding the future of our state’s natural resources and communities by advocating for meaningful legislative action. At this program, you’ll be briefed on our top legislative priorities, including:

• Defending Against Renewable Energy Attacks
• Air Quality Monitoring Initiatives
• Grid Solutions
• Opposing Fossil Fuel Subsidies
• Water Protection Standards and Solutions

Local Action Matters Now More Than Ever!
In light of the national election results, our work at the state and local levels has never been more critical. As federal priorities shift, local government and state legislation are essential to advancing a sustainable, resilient Texas.
This event is designed to help you understand the legislative landscape and equip you with ways to support these efforts, whether through advocacy, community engagement, or direct action. Together, we can help push forward the policies Texas needs for a sustainable and resilient future.

Photo of Texas State Capitol courtesy of Al Braden.

The link below has the Sierra Club participant sign-in agreement (liability waiver). Please read this before the outing so you know what it says. We’ll sign-in quickly at the scenic area and then proceed with the outing. Sign-Up Sheet 2-2020.pdf (sierraclub.org)

If anyone has COVID symptoms or is sick don’t come! We want everyone to be safe. Don’t come if you feel ill! By going on this outing we'll potentially hike with individuals who are vaccinated/unvaccinated. It’s each person’s choice to participate on this outing.

We recommend that you take a day-pack, hat, 3 qts water, insect repellent, sunscreen, snacks, lunch, binoculars, hiking shoes, hat, camera, and field guides. Long pants are recommended to protect against briars, chiggers, and ticks. It’ll be warm so be sure to bring lots of water. We will take regular rest breaks.

The tour will take about 5 hours and will consist of a car caravan with short stops and hikes where we’ll view different points of interest. Hikes are rated as moderate to easy and will be 0.5 to 1.5 miles apiece.

For those who want to carpool/caravan we’ll meet at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot W. of Starbucks, 4700 block of Beechnut, in Meyerland Plaza. Look for a steel-colored Honda Accord hybrid. Sign-up for this outing on the Houston Sierra Club Outings Meet-Up site. To contact your leader, Brandt Mannchen, call 281-570-7212 or email brandt_mannchen@comcast.net.

For those who want to meet in SHNF at 9 am, we’ll be at the Winters Bayou Scenic Area parking lot on FM 1725, 5 m. N. of Cleveland, in San Jacinto County, Tx.

Directions: N. on I-69 to SH 105 in Cleveland, Tx; 1 m. W. on SH 105 to FM 1725; N. on FM 1725 about 5 m.; parking lot is on the rt. just S. of Montegue Church.

Link to register:
Meeting Registration - Zoom

This is the Water for People & Environment Committee's meeting for all Texans interested in water issues, advocacy, organizing and networking.
At this meeting, the speaker will be Dr. Ken Kramer, who will share his insights on the state's proposals to build a statewide pipeline (aka water "gridzilla") and bring water from out of state.

Agenda:
1. H2O Highlights: Recent developments in the water world
2. Dr. Ken Kramer will discuss proposals in the Texas Legislature to import water to Texas via pipeline.
3. Questions & Answers

Purpose: To enhance local and statewide water advocacy efforts and empower Texas residents to advocate for water in their communities.
- Active statewide collaborative network of water advocates
- Increased public awareness of water issues across the state
- Increased engagement in water advocacy among Texas residents
- Transformative policy impact

Link to register:
Meeting Registration - Zoom

Attend this virtual "Lunch & Learn" to hear about regulatory measures to address water quality concerns. Stormwater ordinances are regulatory tools used by municipalities and local governments to manage the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff, aiming to protect public health, infrastructure, and the environment. The Doucet-Kleinfelder team will bring their experience and lessons learned in the planning, development, and implementation of stormwater ordinance to the next Clean Coast Texas Lunch and Learn. They will explore key components and considerations for small and growing communities along the Texas Coast including a case study of ongoing efforts with the City of Port Lavaca.

Nick Dornak, MS, has worked with a wide array of stakeholders in watershed protection and water conservation over a 20-year career that has included stops in state government, grassroots organizations, and academia. His role advances work in green infrastructure and One Water and he was part of the crucial effort to get funding for Clean Coast Texas.
Justin Murray, PE, CFM, brings decades of engineering and project management experience. He has successfully led teams in completing drainage studies, local ordinances, complex H&H analyses, open channel designs, green infrastructure, project programming, benefit-cost analyses, grant applications, and permitting agency coordination.
Lindsey Oskoui, AICP, leads the Kleinfelder—Red River Planning Team with over 20 years of public and private sector planning experience. She also guides public planning efforts such as the Caldwell County Development Code update and the Downtown Cibolo Master Plan.

About Clean Coast Texas: Clean Coast Texas | Texas General Land Office

Clean Coast Texas webinar recordings: Clean Coast Texas Webinars - YouTube