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	Environmental Flows Process

Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area

The timeline below depicts the milestones of the Environmental Flows Allocation Process as they relate to this area.

Click here for a detailed map* of this area.
Click here for a print-friendly map* of the area.
* Map is preliminary. The exact geographical extent of this area is yet to be determined.

Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area Timeline for the Environmental Flows Allocation Process
Date	Basin/Bay	Action
09/01/07	All	Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 3 take effect, beginning the Environmental Flows Allocation Process.
Before 11/01/07	All	The Environmental Flows Advisory Group is created.
Before 11/01/07	All	The Texas Environmental Flows Science Advisory Committee is created.
By 11/01/07	All	The Environmental Flows Advisory Group defines the geographical extend of the river basins/bay system area for the purposes of developingenvironmental flow regime recommendations.
By 9/01/08	Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area	The Environmental Flows Advisory Group appoints the Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group.
Timing TBD	Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area	The Bay/Basin Stakeholder Group appoints the Bay/Basin Expert Science Team.
Timing TBD	Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area	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 ). These recommendations are solely science-based.
Timing TBD	Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area	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 . These are a composite of science- and policy-based recommendations.
Timing TBD	Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area	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).
Timing TBD	Colorado & Lavaca Rivers/Matagorda & Lavaca Bays Area	The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality adopts the environmental flow standards for the Brazos River/Bay & Estuary Area.

Click here for a print-friendly timeline.