Many people enjoy feeding bits of bread to hungry ducks and geese as their children laugh, squeal, and giggle feeling as if they are part of nature. However, Texas Parks and Wildlife warns that feeding migratory ducks at local ponds and creeks can create problems for the birds and the environment. These problems include: Malnutrition Dependency Disease Environmental Degradation Water Pollution Artificial feeding also attracts birds to human habitats such as parking lots, fast-food restaurants, and retention ponds where they are subject to injury or accidental death. Waterfowl are protected by natural cover in wildlife areas that provide protection from bad Read More »
Community
A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at the office! A great day of fishing is even better.
SSCI participated in a fishing trip courtesy of Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) and Texas Legacy Outdoors. Captain Dwayne Green navigated the waters of Matagorda Harbor and Matagorda Bay resulting in a successful catch by Helen I. Hodges, President of SSCI. Ms. Hodges with her catch, a Speckled Trout, is pictured with Captain Green on Matagorda Bay on March 18, 2017. ABNC located in Clear Lake, Texas stands out as one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the United States, providing the community with exceptional educational, recreational, and health benefits of nearby nature. ABNC is planning for the future Read More »
SSCI has a long tradition of mailing out seeds in the spring. This year we are mailing Forget-Me-Not-Seeds (Blue – Myosotis sylvatica). Forget-Me-Not Flowers grow well in shady areas and require minimal care to flower. Forge-Me-Not flowers grow best in damp, shady areas but adapt well to sun light. These long-lived flowering plant product beautiful foliage year after year. Plant in fall or spring when cooler temperatures help them get a healthy start. Drop us a note at ssci@sscienvironmental.com if you would like to receive a package of seeds.
Mercury is dangerous to us and animals. This naturally occurring element can affect the nervous system of any animal with too much exposure. Exposure to mercury during digestion is less hazardous to our bodies than inhalation of mercury gas. People who inhale large amounts of mercury are susceptible to harm because the mercury absorbs in our lungs and begins attacking our nervous system. Different animals can be extremely sensitive to ingestion of mercury. As a child of the 1970s, I remember the scramble of a classroom when a mercury thermometer broke in a classroom. I remember the hype associate with Read More »
We just received the following update from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). We are pleased to announce the TCEQ updates to the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) Tier 1 Protective Concentration Levels (PCLs) are now available. You can access these tables using the link: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/remediation/trrp/trrppcls.html. We are releasing the 2016 PCL table update as a single Microsoft Excel workbook with each table on a separate worksheet. We are also releasing the updates as a print only Adobe Acrobat portable document format (PDF) file. The Excel file and the PDF file each contain PCL tables 1 through 10 and the Read More »
All water bodies within a watershed in Texas are threatened by many types of non-point sources (NPS) of pollution which can detrimentally affect the state’s valuable water resources. In order to recognize, control and prevent these sources of pollution, the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) have partnered up to initiate the Texas Watershed Steward (TWS) program. The TWS program provides a science-based, watershed education to help citizens identify and take action to address local water quality impairments. Watershed stewardship means caring for the water, air, and biodiversity in the entire watershed. Read More »
This past Saturday, February 27, 2016, SSCI members Vanessa Padron and Chrystal Fretwell participated in the 2016 Unleash Your Superhero 5K Fun Run in support of one of SSCI’s favorite charities, Interfaith Caring Ministries (ICM). The event took place at Walter Hall Park in League City, Texas, at 7:50 am for the Kids’ 1K and 8:00 am for the Adults’ 5K. ICM supporters (both human and canine) were dressed as their favorite Superheros as they ran past the finish line. This event was a great way to bring the community together on a beautiful Saturday morning to support a great cause. SSCI would Read More »
Buyers, beware of unknown chemical containers stored on your potential properties. All properties should be thoroughly inspected prior to buying, selling, leasing or refinancing. SSCI specializes in performing Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) on every property type to assist our clients that may be eligible in qualifying for Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)’s Innocent Landowner (ILO) defense and/or assist with cleaning up a property through remediation practices. Our assessments are conducted by Environmental Professionals in accordance with the Standard Practice of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E 1527-13 . Don’t get caught in environmental liability; SSCI offers Read More »
One of SSCI’s favorite charities, Interfaith Caring Ministries (ICM), is having a fun, healthy event for the whole family. Do us a favor and check out their Super Hero Fun Run The mission of Interfaith Caring Ministries (ICM) is to honor our faiths and strengthen our community one family at a time by helping local families, individuals, and seniors in need. Find out more information at Interfaith Caring Ministries.