services provided by H-GAC
Below is a list of services that the Houston-Galveston Area Council can provide to help engage coastal communities to become active participants in the water quality outreach process.
One-on-One Meetings & Needs Assessments
One-on-one meetings and needs assessments are conducted to aggregate data established during initial stakeholder meetings with coastal communities and develop a list of needs/required resources. Questions in the assessment gauge the general level of awareness of staff and residents about the causes of water pollution in their community. Existing pet waste and grease trap ordinances are cataloged. Information about number of on-site sewage facilities, sanitary sewer overflows, and instances of littering and illegal dumping is gathered. Funding and staff for outreach activities is identified, including what outreach efforts have been used in the past and what is planned to go forward. Each assessment includes requests for help and potential stakeholder partners.
Technical Assistance
H-GAC has planners on staff to assist with identification of water quality issues, low-impact development, flooding, funding opportunities, and acquisition of information about regional watersheds and community improvement projects.
This assistance is free of charge to participating communities and H-GAC member cities.
Water Quality Education & Outreach Work Group
A series of stakeholder group meetings will be scheduled to continue to identify needs, discuss opportunities and common issues, and encourage collaboration when implementing the Outreach Toolbox and continued project developments. The Water Quality Education & Outreach Work Group will meet three times per year.
H-GAC staff will facilitate and meetings will be held in venues throughout the four counties to encourage participation. Invitees include staff and elected officials from local governments, counties, ISDs, utility districts, environmental organizations with a water quality focus, HOAs, apartment management, civic groups, and residents.
The goals of the work group include:
Networking by local governments with and without municipal storm sewer permits
Identification of common water quality impairments and concerns
Watershed messaging coordination
Increasing awareness of watershed protection activities by residents
Increased participation in regional water quality projects and plans
Regional coordination of outreach projects, events, and messages by water-quality focused organizations
MEETING ONE (082218) Outreach Open House Photo Gallery
MEETING TWO (110718) Meeting Summary
MEETING THREE (022019) Meeting Summary
MEETING FOUR (052319) Meeting Summary
MEETING FIVE (073119) Meeting Summary (FOG subcommittee)
MEETING SIX (080819) Clean Waters Initiative Field Trip with Save Texas Water Coalition
MEETING SEVEN
MEETING EIGHT
MEETING NINE
On-Site Sewage Facility Funding
H-GAC has funding for the repair or replacement of failing on-site sewage facilities (traditional and aerobic systems) through its Wastewater Assistance Program. Recipients of funding must be homeowners living on the property and meet certain income restrictions. Systems that have been cited can be eligible. Email [email protected] for more information.
On-Site Sewage Facility Homeowner Education
Regular maintenance and inspection of a system can protect public and environmental health, increase system longevity, and protect private property use and value. The goal of this course is to reduce the number of failing on-site sewage systems in the Houston-Galveston region and improve overall water quality. During this free two-hour course, participants will receive an overview of the two types of systems, information on system maintenance and inspection, and details on available resources to maintain, repair and replace aging systems. This course is designed to instruct and educate homeowners on the basics of septic system and onsite sewage facility (OSSF) maintenance and visual inspection. It does not provide for or allow homeowners to inspect their own aerobic system in place of a maintenance contract.
Texas Stream Team Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring
Texas Stream Team is a network of trained volunteers and supportive partners working together to collect information about the natural resources of Texas and to ensure the information is available to all Texans. Volunteers are trained to collect quality-assured information that can be used to make environmentally sound decisions. Established in 1991 as Texas Watch, Texas Stream Team is administered through a cooperative partnership between Texas State University, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Currently more than 400 Texas Stream Team volunteers collect water quality data on lakes, rivers, and streams with programs across the state. Volunteers complete three phases of training using a test kit that measures physical and chemical parameters in water. If you are interested in the H-GAC Texas Stream Team program to become a certified Water Quality Monitor in the H-GAC Region, please contact us at [email protected].
Events & Presentations
H-GAC will coordinate with water quality partner organizations to bring a water quality outreach display, booth, and/or exhibit to the community. H-GAC has ready-to-use educational exhibits covering the four project pillars, with instruction manuals, that can be loaned out for use by staff and volunteers. Promotional best-management-practice items and collateral materials will be distributed as supplies permit. Select materials are available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese as of 2019.
H-GAC education, outreach and planning staff is available to give presentations and demonstrations on water quality at a variety of technical levels and audience interest, from governments, civic organizations, academic groups, K-12 education, and general resident interest groups. H-GAC will also help coordinate presentations and demonstrations with partner governments and organizations where in-house expertise is not available.
One-on-One Meetings & Needs Assessments
One-on-one meetings and needs assessments are conducted to aggregate data established during initial stakeholder meetings with coastal communities and develop a list of needs/required resources. Questions in the assessment gauge the general level of awareness of staff and residents about the causes of water pollution in their community. Existing pet waste and grease trap ordinances are cataloged. Information about number of on-site sewage facilities, sanitary sewer overflows, and instances of littering and illegal dumping is gathered. Funding and staff for outreach activities is identified, including what outreach efforts have been used in the past and what is planned to go forward. Each assessment includes requests for help and potential stakeholder partners.
Technical Assistance
H-GAC has planners on staff to assist with identification of water quality issues, low-impact development, flooding, funding opportunities, and acquisition of information about regional watersheds and community improvement projects.
This assistance is free of charge to participating communities and H-GAC member cities.
Water Quality Education & Outreach Work Group
A series of stakeholder group meetings will be scheduled to continue to identify needs, discuss opportunities and common issues, and encourage collaboration when implementing the Outreach Toolbox and continued project developments. The Water Quality Education & Outreach Work Group will meet three times per year.
H-GAC staff will facilitate and meetings will be held in venues throughout the four counties to encourage participation. Invitees include staff and elected officials from local governments, counties, ISDs, utility districts, environmental organizations with a water quality focus, HOAs, apartment management, civic groups, and residents.
The goals of the work group include:
Networking by local governments with and without municipal storm sewer permits
Identification of common water quality impairments and concerns
Watershed messaging coordination
Increasing awareness of watershed protection activities by residents
Increased participation in regional water quality projects and plans
Regional coordination of outreach projects, events, and messages by water-quality focused organizations
MEETING ONE (082218) Outreach Open House Photo Gallery
MEETING TWO (110718) Meeting Summary
MEETING THREE (022019) Meeting Summary
MEETING FOUR (052319) Meeting Summary
MEETING FIVE (073119) Meeting Summary (FOG subcommittee)
MEETING SIX (080819) Clean Waters Initiative Field Trip with Save Texas Water Coalition
MEETING SEVEN
MEETING EIGHT
MEETING NINE
On-Site Sewage Facility Funding
H-GAC has funding for the repair or replacement of failing on-site sewage facilities (traditional and aerobic systems) through its Wastewater Assistance Program. Recipients of funding must be homeowners living on the property and meet certain income restrictions. Systems that have been cited can be eligible. Email [email protected] for more information.
On-Site Sewage Facility Homeowner Education
Regular maintenance and inspection of a system can protect public and environmental health, increase system longevity, and protect private property use and value. The goal of this course is to reduce the number of failing on-site sewage systems in the Houston-Galveston region and improve overall water quality. During this free two-hour course, participants will receive an overview of the two types of systems, information on system maintenance and inspection, and details on available resources to maintain, repair and replace aging systems. This course is designed to instruct and educate homeowners on the basics of septic system and onsite sewage facility (OSSF) maintenance and visual inspection. It does not provide for or allow homeowners to inspect their own aerobic system in place of a maintenance contract.
Texas Stream Team Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring
Texas Stream Team is a network of trained volunteers and supportive partners working together to collect information about the natural resources of Texas and to ensure the information is available to all Texans. Volunteers are trained to collect quality-assured information that can be used to make environmentally sound decisions. Established in 1991 as Texas Watch, Texas Stream Team is administered through a cooperative partnership between Texas State University, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Currently more than 400 Texas Stream Team volunteers collect water quality data on lakes, rivers, and streams with programs across the state. Volunteers complete three phases of training using a test kit that measures physical and chemical parameters in water. If you are interested in the H-GAC Texas Stream Team program to become a certified Water Quality Monitor in the H-GAC Region, please contact us at [email protected].
Events & Presentations
H-GAC will coordinate with water quality partner organizations to bring a water quality outreach display, booth, and/or exhibit to the community. H-GAC has ready-to-use educational exhibits covering the four project pillars, with instruction manuals, that can be loaned out for use by staff and volunteers. Promotional best-management-practice items and collateral materials will be distributed as supplies permit. Select materials are available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese as of 2019.
H-GAC education, outreach and planning staff is available to give presentations and demonstrations on water quality at a variety of technical levels and audience interest, from governments, civic organizations, academic groups, K-12 education, and general resident interest groups. H-GAC will also help coordinate presentations and demonstrations with partner governments and organizations where in-house expertise is not available.
This program and website are funded in part by the TCEQ through a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Copyright H-GAC 2017 - All Rights Reserved.
Copyright H-GAC 2017 - All Rights Reserved.