Texas Water Matters

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	Environmental Flows Process

Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area

Click here for a detailed map* of this area.
Click here for a print-friendly map* of the area.

* This map is not the exact area designated by the Environmental Flows Advisory Group in July of 2008. A detailed map is not yet available from the state, only a general map is, so meanwhile we continue to have this one posted. The area designated in July differs only slightly from this map in one area-- the coastal area just southwest of Houston. The rest of the area was defined as shown in the maps linked above.

Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area Timeline for the Environmental Flows Allocation Process
Original Dates (SB3)	Revised Dates* (re: 7/08 EFAG mtg)	Action
09/01/07		Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 3 take effect, beginning the Environmental Flows Allocation Process.
Before 11/01/07		The Environmental Flows Advisory Group is created.
Before 11/01/07	Named at 7/08 EFAG mtg	The Texas Environmental Flows Science Advisory Committee is created.
By 11/01/07	Map adopted at 7/08 EFAG mtg	The Environmental Flows Advisory Group defines the geographical extend of the river basins/bay system area for the purposes of developing environmental flow regime recommendations.
By 9/01/08	By 6/1/09	The Environmental Flows Advisory Group appoints the Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group.
Timing TBD	By 10/1/09	The Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group establishes their Bay/Basin Expert Science Team.
Timing TBD	10/1/09 - 10/1/10 (one year)	The Bay/Basin Expert Science Team uses best available science to develop its recommendations for an environmental flow regime to protect a sound ecological environment. The Team submits these recommendations to the Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group (and to the Environmental Flow Advisory Group and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) by 10/1/10. These recommendations are solely science-based.
Timing TBD	10/1/10 - 4/1/11 (six months)	The Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group considers the Bay/Basin Expert Science Team's recommended environmental flow regime, the associated policy considerations, and strategies to meet the flow recommendations. The Stakeholder Group submits its comments and recommendations to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality by 4/1/11. These are a composite of science- and policy-based recommendations.
After 10/1/09	After 4/1/11	The Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group, with assistance from the Bay/Basin Expert Science Team, prepares and submits a work plan to address adaptive management (periodic review of the bay/basin environmental flow analyses, regime recommendations, standards and strategies to meet those standards).
By 10/1/10	4/1/11 - 4/1/12 (one year)	The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality adopts the environmental flow standards for the Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area

* At the 7/08 meeting of the Environmental Flows Advisory Group, the group adopted a revised schedule to the process-a 9 month slide to the dates and timeframes listed in Senate Bill 3. www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/MeetingsByCmte.aspx?Leg=80&Chamber=J&CmteCode=C805

Click here for a print-friendly timeline.