Interim Report to 79th Legislature

During the 78th regular session of the Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 1639 was enacted relating to regulating the waters of the state, including the spacing and production of groundwater and the control of instream flows. The bill, in part, created the Study Commission on Water for Environmental Flows (Study Commission) and charged them with: 1. Conducting public hearings and evaluating public policy implications regarding the balance of demands on the State’s water resources; 2. Assessing the granting of permits for environmental flows; 3. Assessing options available for the protection/preservation/provision of environmental flows; and 4. Assessing allocation options to meet identified environmental water needs. The legislation also called for the Study Commission to appoint an science advisory committee that would serve as impartial advisors and reviewers for the Study Commission.