Description
Environmental flows describe the quality, quantity, and timing of freshwater inflows required to maintain the components, functions, processes, and resilience of downstream bay and estuarine resources. Knowledge of how estuarine resources relate to the condition of an estuary enables resource managers to determine optimal freshwater inflows for target and indicator species. Concern over the delivery and quantities of environmental flows within Texas prompted Texas Legislature to pass Senate Bill 3 (2007), a substantial change to Texas water policy from House Bill 2 (1985). Senate Bill 3 directed the use of an environmental flow regime in developing flow standards and defined a schedule of flow quantities that reflected seasonal and yearly fluctuations by specific location in a watershed, and were to be adequate to support a sound ecological environment. An adaptive management process was established whereby scientific and stakeholder groups were formed for seven individual river basin systems. These estuary/bay-focused groups independently devised their own strategy for determining the dynamics of recommended inflows for their river basin management system. Final Environmental Flow Recommendation Reports were created by each Science and Stakeholder teams and used to establish rules by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This research proposes a comparative study of the Science Team Reports, the Stakeholder Team Reports, and the TCEQ Rules.
I plan to do an analysis of Water Policy in Texas to determine how the environmental flow standards were created for each basin, and to summarize what SB3 replaced in HB2.
I want to answer the questions:
I plan to do an analysis of Water Policy in Texas to determine how the environmental flow standards were created for each basin, and to summarize what SB3 replaced in HB2.
I want to answer the questions:
- How did the different Bay/Basin systems implement the environmental flow laws differently?
- How did TCEQ implement the two Groups Reports to come up with a standard number for water to be allocated for environmental flows?
- Was TCEQ consistent for each of the Bay/Basin system when establishing the standard?
- What was TCEQ process in evaluating the reports for each group?
- How is the adaptive management process working in the reports and is it reflected in the standards set by TCEQ?
- What was the goal of environmental flows in SB3 and what has been the outcome?
Abstracts
Research Links
HB 2, 69th Regular Session
Relating to the conservation, development, and protection and enhancement of the quality of, and flood and subsidence control for, surface and underground water and bays and estuaries and providing various financing mechanisms to finance conservation, development, and protection and enhancement of the quality of, and flood, subsidence control, recharge, desalinization, and chloride control for, surface and underground water and agricultural soil and water conservation. |
SB 3, 80th Regular Session
Relating to the development, management, and preservation of the water resources of the state; providing penalties. |
Texas Water Development Board
The 2017 State Water Plan was adopted by the Board on May 19, 2016 to ensure the ongoing vitality of our economy, Texas' citizens, water experts, and government agencies collaborate in a comprehensive water planning process. We plan so that Texans will have enough water in the future to sustain our cities and rural communities, our farms and ranches, and our homes and businesses while also preserving the agricultural and natural resources that have defined Texas for generations. The 2017 State Water Plan tells us that our population will continue its rapid growth. The plan also provides a roadmap for how to address the water needs that accompany that growth by identifying water management strategies and their associated costs for communities all across the state. The information in this plan is critical to ensuring that Texas has adequate and affordable water supplies both now and in the future. |
Texas Living Waters Project
Fresh water for every living thing Texas is our home. It is a land of clear rivers, deep swimming holes, refreshing springs and thriving bays. Fresh water nourishes and sustains the wildlife that share our home with us, while at the same time supplying the ever-growing Texas economy. Fresh water allows us to fish and hunt, farm and ranch, build and prosper – all the things that make this state great. Despite persistent droughts and our own huge demand, we can still ensure that our kids will enjoy Texas’ natural heritage and a thriving economy – if we work together to protect our springs, rivers and bays today. As this great state grows and the inevitable droughts continue their cycles, so grows the need for that can-do Texas spirit. Join us and discover new ways to conserve and protect our most precious resource. This is the greatest challenge facing Texas today and we will meet that challenge by planning ahead and embracing the best strategies and science to meet our needs. So there will always be fresh water… For everyone and every living thing. Everyone includes you. |