2012 BBESTs Rio Grande, Rio Grande estuary, and Lower Laguna Madre environmental flows recommendations reports

Section 11.02362(b)(3) of Senate Bill 3 (SB3) as enacted by the 80th Texas Legislature in 2007 identifies the river basin and bay system consisting of the Texas portions of the Rio Grande, the Rio Grande estuary, and the Lower Laguna Madre (collectively the Texas Rio Grande system) as a priority system for the purpose of developing environmental flow regime recommendations and adopting environmental flow standards. This report presents the findings and recommendations of the SB3 Rio Grande Basin and Bay Expert Science Team (BBEST) regarding these environmental flow requirements. Because of distinct differences in the aquatic environments across the Texas Rio Grande system, the associated different needs with regard to protecting environmental flows, and the unique water rights, water availability and institutional aspects of this system, this SB3 work has been conducted by two subgroups of the BBEST, a Lower Rio Grande BBEST and an Upper Rio Grande BBEST.