Texas Water Matters

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	Environmental Flows Process

Trinity & San Jacinto Rivers/Galveston Bay

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.

This area is one of the two that will be addressed first by the Environmental Flows Allocation Process. The timeline below depicts the milestones of the process, as they relate to this area.

The Stakeholder Group and Bay/Basin Expert Science Team
The Stakeholder Group was appointed for this area by the Environmental Flows Advisory Group in July of 2008 and began meeting in August. They have established their Bay/Basin Expert Science Team. Their first meeting, which was a joint meeting with the Stakeholder Group, took place in December 2008. For announcements of upcoming meetings, agendas, meeting minutes, presentations, and handouts, please see the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Stakeholder Group and Science Team webpage that is specific to this area:
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/permitting/water_supply/water_rights/eflows/trinsanjacgalbaystake.html

Trinity & San Jacinto Rivers/Galveston Bay 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 11/01/07	Named at 7/08 EFAG mtg	The Environmental Flows Advisory Group appoints the Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group.
By 03/01/08	By 12/1/08	The Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group establishes the Bay/Basin Expert Science Team.
03/01/08 - 03/01/09	12/1/08 - 12/1/09 (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 12/1/09. These recommendations are solely science-based.
03/01/09 - 9/01/09	12/1/09 - 6/1/10 (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 6/1/10. These are a composite of science- and policy-based recommendations.
After 9/01/09	After 6/1/10	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 -/01/10	6/1/10 - 6/1/11 (one year)	The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality adopts the environmental flow standards for the Trinity & San Jacinto Rivers/Galveston Bay

* 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.


		Scientist team to determine future of Trinity & San Jacinto Rivers,Galveston Bay Press Release: November 14, 2008 National Wildlife Federation Read Press Release