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Society for Ecological Restoration Texas Chapter |
Restoration Update April, 2016 |
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TXSER Board of Directors President Charlotte Reemts Vice President Kelly Lyons Secretary Leslie Dietz Treasurer Colin Shackelford North Texas Rep. Michelle Villafranca East Texas Rep. William Forbes South Texas Rep. Eric Grahmann West Texas Rep. Katherine Crosthwaite Central Texas Rep. Ingrid Karklins Coastal Texas Rep. Alejandro Fierro Cabo Coastal Texas Rep. Bradley Hoge Chapter Director Gwen Thomas TXSER info@txser.org (972) 768-8067 |
2016 Conference
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November 11-13, 2016
Camp Cho-Yeh
Livingston, TX
Updates to be posted on the TXSER website soon.
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Save the Date!
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Employment Opportunities
& More
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For up-to-date announcements of positions open in ecological restoration and environmental science, visit our website at: Job Postings
We also post a wide range of articles on ecological restoration issues as well as job and volunteer opportunities on our Facebook page at: TXSER Facebook Page
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TXSER Newsflash
SAVE THE DATE!!
TXSER 2016 Annual Conference
November 11-13, 2016
Camp Cho-Yeh
Livingston, Texas
(1 hour North of Houston)
Calling all practitioners, academics, students and anyone interested in restoration ecology. Join us at Camp Cho-Yeh in November to share experiences, discuss current thinking, learn, and develop collaborative relationships with fellow restorationists working in Texas and beyond. Livingston straddles the coastal plains and piney woods offering us the unique opportunity to learn about these two regions.
Conference information will be posted on our new conference website which will be up and running soon.
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Lake Livingston State Park. Photo credit: TPWD
Interesting Note: Cho-Yeh means Land of Tall Pines in the Alabama Coushatta Indian Language.
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Conference Update
We need Your Input - EER Award!
Excellence in Ecological Restoration Award:
Each year at our conference, TXSER honors someone who has made substantial contributions to restoration ecology in Texas with the Excellence in Ecological Restoration Award. These contributions can include ground-breaking research, amazing on-the-ground restoration implementation, or outstanding facilitation of others' restoration efforts. If you know of someone who should be considered for this award, please send a short paragraph about their efforts and qualifications to Charlotte Reemts or Gwen Thomas.
Award Selection Committee:
We are putting together a committee to consider this year's nominees for the Excellence in Ecological Restoration Award. The time commitment for this committee will be relatively small: a couple of hours reading through nominations and a couple of conference calls to vote on the recipient. If you are interested in reading about some of the most exciting restoration work in Texas, please contact Charlotte Reemts or Gwen Thomas.
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TXSER Student Association News
The Texas A&M Student Association held two meetings this spring.
February 29th, Lori Hazel, Staff Forester II, Water Resources and Ecosystem Services Program, Texas A&M Forest Service gave a talk entitled "Best Management Practices for Water Resources and Riparian Health Assessment."
March 21st the Student Association held a joint meeting with the Texas A&M Chapters of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. Ben Hutchins, Invertebrate Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Service addressed the group with a talk entitled "Habitat Conservation and Restoration for the Monarch Butterfly and other Pollinators of Concern."
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Monarch butterfly.
Photo credit: Texas Pollinator PowWow Facebook Page
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Member Spotlight
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Lynde Dodd in her element.
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Name: Lynde L. Dodd
City: Lewisville, TX
Affiliation: Research Biologist, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers - Engineer Research and Development Center
Briefly describe your ongoing efforts/interest in ecological restoration. For the past 15 years, my carreer has focused upon aquatic ecology and invasive species with an emphasis in aquatic ecosystem restoration. I enjoy working with local, state and federal partners to create functional, diverse and sustainable aquatic ecosystems that provide valuable habitat. Some of the more recent projects that I've had the privilege to offer my expertise in restoration techniques include the Dallas Floodway Extension in south Dallas, where created wetlands adjacent to the Trinity River provide much needed refuge for migratory waterfowl using the Central Flyway; working with Texas Parks and Wildlife and other partners on Lake Conroe to create valuable fisheries habitat as well as working with the City of Austin and the University of North Texas to restore aquatic vegetation to Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin.
Briefly describe if, and how, climate change has affected your work. Invasive species management is paramount to creating resilient and sustainable ecosystems. Increased CO2 and temperature attributed to climate change may give a competitive edge to invasives over our Texas natives. Utilizing an adaptive management approach by using ongoing results from monitoring to address problematic species in a timely manner keeps these species in check and out of our natural landscapes. Examples of invasive that are managed in many Texas aquatic ecosystem restoration projects include alligatorweed (
Alternanthera philoxeroides) and annual bastard cabbage (
Rapistrum rugosum).
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Illinois pondweed (
Potamogeton illinoensis) in Lake Austin, Austin, TX.
Photo credit: Lynde Dodd
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Describe your favorite outdoor activity. My favorite outdoor activity is kayaking and Texas has more than a few kayak worthy waterbodies to navigate for an adventure. On a day drive, my hubby and I love to traverse the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and if we have a few days for fun, the Brazos River or Llano River are prefect getaways. We've got the Devils River on our mind for our next kayaking trip.
What is your favorite Texas plant and/or animal? Native aquatic plants are so often overlooked in our natural aquatic landscapes and, in many cases, regarded as "weeds". My favorite Texas plants would have to be pondweeds (
Potamogeton spp.) and duck potatoes (
Sagittaria spp.). Both are beneficial and vital to aquatic ecosystems in that they are versatile and hardy, directly providing seeds and tubers for wildlife, but also indirectly serving as habitat for macroinvertebrates and fish which in turn support migratory waterfowl and other aquatic animals. My favorite Texas animals would have to be the common snapping turtle (
Chelydra serpintina) and the hoary bat (
Lasiurus cinereus).
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Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) photographed at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA), Lewisville, TX
Photo credit: Lynde Dodd and Richard Freiheit.
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News You Can Use
1. Scientists Unveil New Tree of Life
Article from the New York Times indicating much of Earth's biodiversity is made up of bacteria.
2. SER-Australia National Restoration Standards
Article about SER-Australia National Restoration Standards. Note the April 27th webinar on this topic below.
3. Texas Stories Told Through Maps
The Texas Landscape Project is a multi-media effort to track environmental events and conservation efforts in the State. Maps, text, data and video help to gain a better understanding of the role of land, water, energy, wildlife, people and health in Texas history.
4. Texas Water Explorer - Online Tools
New online tools make Texas water information available to the public.
5. Thinking Restoration? Think Big and Think Inclusive
Blog post from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) on how countries may need to change their approach if they are to meet commitments to restore millions of hectares of degraded land.
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1. Earth Day Texas
Event Dates: April 22-24, 2016, 10am - 6pm
Location: Fair Park, Dallas
Free to the Public. Don't miss the announcement of the Earth Tank Awards!!
2. BioBlitz - Tandy Hills Natural Area
Organized by: Friends of the Tandy Hills Natural Area
Event Dates: Earth Day, Friday, April 22 at 6am to Saturday April 23 at 6pm
Location: Tandy Hills Natural Area, 3400 View Street, Fort Worth
For more information, click here -
BioBlitz
3. Texas Pollinator PowWow
Learn about Texas plants and pollinators, the conservation challenges they are facing, and how you can help. Topics range from native plants and bees to monarchs and bats to best management practices for urban and rural landowners.
Event Dates: April 22-24, 2016
Location: Museum of Texas Tech University,
Lubbock, TX
4. Webinar: Developing Standards for Ecological Restoration: The How, What and Why of an Australian Initiative.
Presented by: Kingsley Dixon, Chair SER-Australia
Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2016, 7pm CST
Note: While this program was developed by SER-Australia, it has a global reach. Space is limited so sign up soon.
5. 2016 Society for Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting
Theme: Protecting Wetland Ecosystem Services. Promoting Stronger Economies
Event Dates: May 31 - June 4, 2016
Location: American Bank Center, Corpus Christi
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A Heartfelt Thanks to the Following Organizations & Individuals for their Generous Support
of our
2015 20th Anniversary Conference!!
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Charlotte Reemts Suzanne Tuttle
<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>
Please Take a Moment to Click on the Above Logos
& Check Out Our Sponsors' Websites.
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The Society for Ecological Restoration, Texas Chapter promotes ecological restoration as a means of sustaining the diversity of life on Earth and re-establishing an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture. |
Become a member today! Click Here to Join Us! Join the Texas Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration. Chapter members receive valuable benefits including:
- the opportunity to network with restoration practitioners and enthusiasts;
- discounts to our Annual Conference, an opportunity to share and learn;
- invitations to attend talks, ER Discussion Groups, and volunteer workdays around the state; and,
- monthly updates and quarterly newsletters with articles and notices about regional events that allow you to connect to the local restoration community.
Chapter membership fees of $15 support chapter administration. The TXSER Board of Directors consists of volunteers who share a passion for furthering ecological restoration in Texas. Joining SER links you with a global restoration network. SER member benefits include:
- SERNews bi-monthly newsletter;
- discounts on journal publications;
- discounts to SER World Conferences;
- discounts on SER Career Center;
- access to a searchable, online member directory;
- access to SER's Global Restoration Network; and,
- promotional opportunities through the SER Calendar of Events and Restoration Project Showcase.
To become a member visit: www.ser.org/membership Be sure to click the Texas Chapter as your Chapter Affiliate. We look forward to having you join us! |
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