Dallas Sierra Club News - January 2016
In This Issue. . .
Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Area
 Bill
Greer will present a short program about a Dallas Sierra Club
backpack outing in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Area.
Come share the trip with us and see what New Mexico'
s newest
Wilderness area looks like.
Hummingbirds and challenges facing wildlife in
Texas
Texas has a wealth of wildlife, one of the most species rich
states in the nation.
If we wish to continue to support
and maintain this diversity, there are numerous challenges we
face.
Mark Klym will talk about hummingbirds and what is
being done to support and maintain our native Texas treasures.
 Mark
is coordinator of the Texas Hummingbird Roundup and Texas
Wildscapes programs at Texas Parks and Wildlife.
He grew
up just across the international border in Canada where he
developed a love for the outdoors - spending time fishing,
birding and hiking.
His special interest in hummingbirds
developed early, when he found a male Ruby-throated
Hummingbird exploring the plants in his grandfather's
greenhouse.
Mark received baccalaureate degrees in Biological Science
and in Fisheries & Wildlife Management from Lake Superior
State University in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.
He
followed the hummingbirds to Texas in 1999 to work with Texas
Parks and Wildlife.
He is coauthor Hummingbirds of
Texas by Texas A&M Press, editor of the Eye on Nature
and The Texas Hummer newsletters, and author or
editor of several booklets and publications from TPWD.
Everyone is welcome. FREE!
You don't have to be a Sierra Club member. Just
show up. We'd love to meet you.
Our General Meeting starts at 7:00 pm, but come at 6:30 for
snacks, information and fellowship. Click over to our
General Meeting page for more information and a map.
We still have 2016 Sierra Club Wilderness Calendars and
Appointment Books. These award winning calendars are the best
selling calendars in the United States. Get them at the
January General Meeting.
 Read
a full description of the Dallas Sierra Club'
s upcoming trip
to backpack and hike in Big Bend National Park
when you click here. We'
ll depart Dallas on a sleeper bus
with professional drivers at 8:00 PM on Friday, February 26
and return you to Dallas by 6 AM Wednesday, March 2.
The
cost per person (transportation and permits) is $260 with
timely registration.
This year'
s trip features four hikes.
Destinations
include the remote Mesa de Anguila, the varied landscapes of
the classic Outer Mountain Loop hike and two trips exploring
the high Chisos Mountains. One of our trips will be complete
new for us. It will camp in the developed Chisos Mountains
campground and do all of their exploring on day hikes. Perfect
for those of you who love to hike but don't backpack.
February 9 - Critterman and His
Animals -
Live! The live animals in this family friendly presentation
will be engaging entertainment for children and adults alike.
Meet some amazing Lone Star natives.
March 8 - Clacier National Park - Our March program will feature a
visit to Glacier National Park. Glacier was established in
1910 in northern Montana along the Continental Divide near the
Canadian border.
Come to Important DFW Air Hearing on January 21
On Thursday, January 21 there will be a public hearing re: DFW
air quality and our final local air plan at 616 Six Flaggs Dr.
at 6:30 pm across from
the Six Flaggs Park in Arlington.
Regional air plans are devised every five years. In our view,
the TCEQ continues to fail citizens as it has for a decade
regarding clearing the air to meet federal clean air
standards. It is time for the EPA to take over the process as
DFW has waited long enough. In 2015, the EPA were taking
comments to bump the region's non-attainment status from
"serious" to "severe," the worst category there is.
Plans are underway to rally groups and individuals to come and
speak for clean air. For more info, contact Rita Beving at
rita.beving@gmail.com.
Public Hearing on Denton Natural Gas Power Plants January 23
On Saturday, January 23, there will be a public hearing on
Denton's proposed natural gas plants starting at 9:30 am at
Denton City Hall.
Two natural gas peaker plants have been proposed with 12
units/or engines between two sites. Though we applaud the part
of the Denton Renewable Plan that proposes the city moving
from 40% renewables to 70% renewables, we find it stunning
that a city that passed a fracking ban would encourage the use
of natural gas for power plants located within the city
limits.
One of the peaker plants would be located at the worst air
monitor in the region at the Denton airport. DFW is currently
in a nine-county nonattainment region for air quality, of
which Denton is a part of. Our current designation is serious
for not meeting federal air standards. There are real
questions if the region would ever meet attainment if an
emissions producing source such as a peaker plant would be
sited near the airport monitor. It also seems counterintuitive
that a conservative city that overwhelming passed a fracking
ban with at least 54-56% of the vote would even consider
natural gas plants for power.
Denton's power is produced by the city-owned Denton Municipal
Electric (DME) who has been one of four partners with Bryan,
Garland, and Greenville in the coal-fired Gibbons Creek power
plant. Though DME wants to claim that backing out of this
coal-fired power plant produces a 37% reduction in their
portfolio emissions, there is no indication that the Gibbons
Creek power plant will close. This translates into more
pollution when you add 2 gas-fired plants on top of the
pollution that blows into the region from Gibbons Creek
located southeast of the metroplex and Denton. The City of
Bryan has indicated that it plans to continue using Gibbons
Creek - other partners need to indicate by Sept. 2016 if they
will continue as partners in the plant.
People in Dallas are encouraged to go to this hearing because
what Denton does affects DFW's nonattainment status. They are
also encouraged to get friends and colleagues in Denton to
attend as there are many unanswered questions. Bring your
questions. Past presentations can be reviewed on the Denton
city website.
For more information re: the Denton gas plants, emails Rita at
rita.beving@gmail.com.
Attend the Clean Eco Meetup January 28 - Help Improve Your DFW
Environment
The first Clean Eco Meetup of the year will be held Thursday,
January 28 at 6:30 pm at Picasso's Pizza on Inwood north of
Forest Lane in Dallas.
Clean Eco Meetups are a clearinghouse for many environmental
groups and activists from around DFW to come together and
discuss the issues of the day and actions needed on these
efforts. The public is invited.
Some of the topics to be discussed include:
- EFH and its bankruptcy proceedings
- Proposed Denton natural gas-fired power plants
- TransCanada/Keystone XL lawsuit
- Need for water conservation venues
- DFW air plan
- Railroad Commission agency sunset review
- Elections - Whose running/who has a shot?
- Your Announcements
For more information, email Rita.beving@gmail.com.
Want to be adventurous and explore amazing backcountry
areas? Come to this popular, interactive class designed for
never-ever backpackers and people who want to refresh
backpacking knowledge and skills.
 Dallas Sierra Club trip
leaders with decades of backpacking experiences will present
a
comprehensive overview
of backpacking topics, including packs,
boots, tents, sleeping bags, food and cooking, clothes,
wilderness ethics, sanitation and more. We'll include tips we
wish someone had told us sooner
to make backpacking more
comfortable and less expensive.
Place:
Whole Foods
Market, southeast quadrant of
Preston Road and Forest Lane,
Dallas.
Come upstairs to the community meeting room.
Time: The class begins
at 10 AM and
lasts until 4
PM, with a break for lunch. Please
arrive early to sign in and get settled.
Buy lunch at the
grocery and eat
in the classroom.
Price:
$35 for
Sierra Club members, $40 for non-members.
Online
pre-registration by credit card is encouraged
and available
by clicking
here
or
you may pay by cash or check at the door.
If you already have some gear and want to ask questions
about using, packing or replacing it, bring it with you and
we'll do our best to resolve your questions.
 The
Dallas Sierra Club is looking for volunteers who likes working
with people and planning events, and want to play an important
role helping the environment and helping the Sierra Club.
Duties could include:
- Assist with checking in new members and visitors at
our monthly General Meeting.
- Help maintain our volunteer database.
- Assist with our annual Holiday Party and other social
events such as new member hikes, pot-lucks or picnics.
If this looks like something you might be interested in,
please contact the Dallas Group Chair, Wendel Withrow at
972-416-2500 or by
email, or visit us at our next General Meeting or Excom
meeting (check our calendar).
Here is our calendar for the next two months. For complete listings, visit us at
www.dallassierraclub.org.
 Jan
12 (Tue) Dallas Sierra Club General Meeting
Bill Greer will present a short program about a Dallas Sierra
Club backpack outing in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Area.
Mark Klym's main presentation will talk about hummingbirds and
what is being done to support and maintain our native Texas
treasures.
Everyone is invited.
Full details are
on our home page
now.
 Jan
16 (Sat) Trail Maintenance at Cedar Ridge Preserve
Come to the hilly terrain of Cedar Ridge Preserve to help
maintain one of the better trail networks in Dallas.
The
Dallas Sierra Club is responsible for the Possum Haw Trail.
We work here on third Saturdays of almost every month,
starting at 9 AM, working until approximately noon.
This
project is fun and the landscape is beautiful. We've
ordered excellent weather.
The Preserve's address is 7171
Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas
75249.
For directions and
general information about Cedar Ridge Preserve, click
this link.
If you need more information or
want to
carpool, call or email me. Contact: Ginger Bradley
Send Email 469-223-7902
 Jan
20 (Wed) Outings Committee Meeting
The Outings Committee meets tonight at 6:30, upstairs at
Whole
Foods Market, SE quadrant of Preston Road and Forest
Lane, Dallas
We'll continue to plan outings and
classes for 2016.
We particularly need day hikes and
one-night or two-night outings this spring.
Anyone interested
in outings is invited.
Contact
Mark to be added to the
advance agenda email list.
Organizer: Mark Stein
Send Email 214-526-3733
 Jan
21 (Thu) DFW Air Hearing
On Thursday, January 21 there will be a public hearing re:
DFW air quality and our final local air plan
at 616 Six Flaggs Dr. at 6:30 pm across from the Six Flaggs
Park in Arlington. Regional air plans are devised every five
years. In our view, the TCEQ continues to fail citizens as it
has for a decade regarding clearing the air to meet federal
clean air standards.
It is time for the EPA to take over
the process as DFW has waited long enough.
In 2015, the
EPA were taking comments to bump the region's non-attainment
status from "serious" to "severe," the worst category there
is. Plans are underway to rally groups and individuals to come
and speak for clean air. For more information: Rita Beving
Send Email
Jan
23 (Sat) Public Hearing on Denton Natural Gas Power Plants
On Saturday, January 23, there will be a public hearing on
Denton's proposed natural gas plants starting at 9:30 am at
Denton City Hall. Two natural gas peaker plants have been
proposed with 12 units/or engines between two sites.
Though we applaud the part of the Denton Renewable Plan that
proposes the city moving from 40% renewables to 70%
renewables, we find it stunning that a city that passed a
fracking ban would encourage the use of natural gas for power
plants located within the city limits. One of the peaker
plants would be located at the worst air monitor in the region
at the Denton airport.
DFW is currently in a nine-county
nonattainment region for air quality, of which Denton is a
part of.
Our current designation is serious for not
meeting federal air standards.
There are real questions
if the region would ever meet attainment if an emissions
producing source such as a peaker plant would be sited near
the airport monitor.
It also seems counterintuitive that
a conservative city that overwhelming passed a fracking ban
with at least 54-56% of the vote would even consider natural
gas plants for power. Denton's power is produced by the
city-owned Denton Municipal Electric (DME) who has been one of
four partners with Bryan, Garland, and Greenville in the
coal-fired Gibbons Creek power plant.
Though DME wants
to claim that backing out of this coal-fired power plant
produces a 37% reduction in their portfolio emissions, there
is no indication that the Gibbons Creek power plant will
close.
This translates into more pollution when you add
2 gas-fired plants on top of the pollution that blows into the
region from Gibbons Creek located southeast of the Metroplex
and Denton.
The City of Bryan has indicated that it
plans to continue using Gibbons Creek - other partners need to
indicate by Sept. 2016 if they will continue as partners in
the plant. People in Dallas are encouraged to go to this
hearing because what Denton does affects DFW's non-attainment
status.
They are also encouraged to get friends and
colleagues in Denton to attend as there are many unanswered
questions.
Bring your questions.
Past
presentations can be reviewed on the Denton city website. For
more information: Rita Beving
Send Email
Jan
28 (Thu) Clean Eco Meetup
The first Clean Eco Meetup of the year will be held Thursday
January 28 at 6:30 pm at Picasso's Pizza on Inwood north of
Forest Lane in Dallas. Clean Eco Meetups are a clearinghouse
for many environmental groups and activists from around DFW to
come together and discuss the issues of the day and actions
needed on these efforts. The public is invited.
Some of the topics to be discussed include:
- EFH and its bankruptcy proceedings
- Proposed Denton natural gas-fired power plants
- TransCanada/Keystone XL lawsuit
- Need for water conservation venues
- DFW air plan
- Railroad Commission agency sunset review
- Elections - Whose running/who has a shot?
- Your Announcements
For more information: Rita
Beving
Send Email
 Jan
30 (Sat) Backpacking 101 Class
Want to be adventurous and explore amazing backcountry areas?
Come to this popular, interactive class designed for
never-ever backpackers and people who want to refresh
backpacking knowledge and skills. Dallas Sierra Club trip
leaders with decades of backpacking experiences will present
a
comprehensive overview
of backpacking topics, including packs,
boots, tents, sleeping bags, food and cooking, clothes,
wilderness ethics, sanitation and more. We'll include tips we
wish someone had told us sooner
to make backpacking more
comfortable and less expensive.
Place:
Whole Foods Market, southeast quadrant
of
Preston Road and Forest Lane, Dallas.
Come upstairs to the
community meeting room.
Time: The class begins at 10 AM and
lasts until 4
PM,
with a break for lunch. Please arrive early to sign in and get
settled.
Buy lunch at the grocery and eat
in the classroom.
Price:
$35
for Sierra Club members, $40 for non-members.
Online
pre-registration by credit card is encouraged
and available
by clicking
here
or
you may pay by cash or check at the door.
If you already have some gear
and want to ask questions about using, packing or replacing
it, bring it with you and we'll do our best to resolve your
questions.
Coordinator: Liz Wheelan
Send Email 214-368-2306
Feb
3 (Wed) Dallas Sierra Club Executive Committee Meeting
The Executive Committee (or Excom) is the elected governing
body of the Dallas Sierra Club and meets at Brookhaven
College, Building H at 6:30 pm. Contact the
Dallas Group Chair for more information.
Feb
9 (Tue) Dallas Sierra Club General Meeting
 Critterman
and his animals - Live!
The live animals in
this family friendly presentation will be engaging
entertainment for children and adults alike.
Meet some
amazing Lone Star natives.
Discover the incredibly
valuable services that native animals perform as natural pest
controllers and waste removers.
You will meet a ghost, a
janitor, a famous historical creature, and its arch enemy.
Everyone is invited.
Full details are on our
home page now.
Feb
13 (Sat) White Rock Lake Clean-up
Walk and talk while picking up trash and recyclables at the
Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at
8:15 AM this second Saturday of the month at the Love of the
Lake office, northeast corner of Garland Road and Buckner
Boulevard.
Look for the crowd drinking free juice and coffee.
Gloves, trash bags, etc. will be provided. Our area includes
one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are
always birds and wildflowers to enjoy.
Brunch afterwards.
Leader: Carol Nash
Send Email 214-455-2115
Feb
17 (Wed) Outings Committee Meeting
The Outings Committee meets tonight at 6:30, upstairs at
Whole
Foods Market, SE quadrant of Preston Road and Forest
Lane, Dallas
Anyone interested in outings is
invited.
Contact
Mark to be added to the advance agenda email
list.
Organizer: Mark Stein
Send Email 214-526-3733
Feb
20 (Sat) Trail Maintenance at Cedar Ridge Preserve
Come to the hilly terrain of Cedar Ridge Preserve to help
maintain one of the better trail networks in Dallas.
The
Dallas Sierra Club is responsible for the Possum Haw Trail.
We work here on third Saturdays of almost every month,
starting at 9 AM, working until approximately noon.
This
project is fun and the landscape is beautiful. We've
ordered excellent weather.
The Preserve's address is 7171
Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas
75249.
For directions and
general information about Cedar Ridge Preserve, click
this link.
If you need more information or
want to
carpool, call or email me. Contact: Ginger Bradley
Send Email 469-223-7902
 Feb
26-Mar 2 (Fri-Wed) Big Bend National Park
Board our chartered sleeper bus Friday night and wake to
breakfast at
the restaurant in the National Park. The 2016
trip will offer options to backpack
the Chisos Basin, the Lost
Mine Trail, the Window Trail, the Outer Mountain Loop and the
Mesa d'Anguila. One trip option will
base camp
at the Chisos
Basin Campground and make day hikes, no backpacking necessary.
All trips hike four days (Sat., Sun., Mon., Tues.) and camp
three nights, returning to Dallas Wednesday before daybreak.
The end of February is prime time to visit the Park, before
it's too hot. Complete trip details, including costs and sign
up requirements are in
this PDF document. Bus trip leader: Arthur Kuehne
Send Email 214-608-3210
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