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Rio Grande, Rio Grande Estuary, and Lower Laguna Madre Basin and Bay Area Stakeholder Committee and Expert Science Team

Created by the 80th Texas Legislature in recognition of the importance that the ecological soundness of our riverine, bay, and estuary systems and riparian lands have on the economy, health, and well-being of our state

Environmental Flows Recommendations

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department review comments on the Rio Grande Basin and Bay Expert Science Teams (BBESTs) recommendations.

Science Advisory Committee (SAC) review comments on the Rio Grande Basin and Bay Expert Science Teams (BBESTs) recommendations.

BBEST recommendations

Introduction to the Rio Grande BBEST recommendations

Lower Rio Grande BBEST

Upper Rio Grande BBEST

Basin and Bay Area Stakeholder Committee (BBASC)

The Texas Water Code requires the creation of several Basin and Bay Area Stakeholder Committees for specific river basin and bay systems listed in the Texas Water Code §11.23620 . ( map: geographical extent of priority basins ).

These Committees have specific tasks to perform to assist with the work of the Environmental Flows Advisory Group. One of the tasks the Committees are to perform is to establish a Basin and Bay Expert Science Team. Each Basin and Bay Expert Science Team will develop an environmental flow analysis and a recommended environmental flow regime for their specific river basin and bay system.

BBASC Members

Member Interest Group

  • Carlos Ayala Environmental
  • Joe Barrera River Authority
  • John Bruciak Electrical Generation
  • David Crum Free-Range Livestock
  • D.V. Guerra Free-Range Livestock
  • Rick Guerrero Soil and Water Conservation
  • Wayne Halbert Agricultural Irrigation
  • Sonny Hinojosa Regional Water Planning Group
  • Glenn Jarvis Recreational
  • Sonia Lambert River Authority
  • Michael McCulloch Public Interest
  • Donald McGhee Refining
  • Scott McWilliams Environmental
  • Robert Potts Public Interest
  • Tony Reisinger Commercial Fisherman
  • Arturo Rodriguez Environmental
  • Tomas Rodriguez Municipality
  • Ella de la Rosa Electrical Generation
  • Alan Zeman Regional Water Planning Group

BBASC Meetings

Basin and Bay Area Expert Science Team (BBEST)

The Texas Water Code requires the creation of several Basin and Bay Area Expert Science Teams for specific river basin and bay systems listed in the Texas Water Code 11.02362 . ( map: geographical extent of priority basins ).

These Teams have specific tasks to perform to assist with the work of the Environmental Flows Advisory Group. Each Basin and Bay Expert Science Team will develop an environmental flow analyses and a recommended environmental flow regime for their specific river basin and bay system.

BBEST Members: Upper Rio Grande Basin

  • Jeff Bennett
  • Gary L. Bryant
  • David Dean, Ph.D.
  • Zhuping Sheng, Ph.D.
  • Ryan Smith
  • Kevin Urbanczyk, Ph.D.

BBEST Meetings: Upper Rio Grande Basin

The Upper Rio Grande BBEST has held conference calls on the following dates:

  • June 07, 2012
  • May 31, 2012
  • May 24, 2012
  • May 17, 2012
  • May 10, 2012
  • April 13, 2012
  • April 05, 2012
  • March 29, 2012
  • March 26, 2012
  • March 22, 2012
  • February 16, 2012
  • February 09, 2012
  • January 11, 2012
  • September 19, 2011

BBEST Members: Lower Rio Grande Basin

  • Jude Benavides, Ph.D.
  • David Buzan
  • Hudson DeYoe
  • Bob Edwards, Ph.D.
  • Carlos Marin, Ph.D., P.E.
  • Warren Pulich, Ph.D.

BBEST Meetings: Lower Rio Grande Basin

The Lower Rio Grande BBEST held conference calls on the following dates:

  • December 16, 2012
  • April 16, 2012
  • March 28, 2012
  • February 20, 2012
  • February 09, 2012
  • October 27, 2011

Questions about the stakeholder committee or expert science team?

Please call or e-mail the Water Availability Division at wras@tceq.texas.gov or 512-239-4600.