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About the Authority

In 2001, the 77^th Legislature enacted Senate Bill 2 establishing the Texas Instream Flow Program (TIFP) to define “appropriate methodologies for determining flow conditions in the state’s rivers and streams necessary to support a sound ecological environment” (Texas Water Code §16.059). In July 2004, the Texas Water Development Board, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, tasked with implementation of the Texas Instream Flow Program, contracted with the Sabine River Authority of Texas for assistance in the Lower Sabine River Priority Instream Flow Study (Lower Sabine IFS), which will study the instream flow needs of the Sabine River from Toledo Bend to its mouth at Sabine Lake. The Lower Sabine IFS is among the first tier of instream flow studies to be initiated and is due to be completed prior to December 31, 2010.

The Texas Instream Flow Program is only one aspect of the state’s concern with beneficial environmental flows. Senate Bill 1639 (78^th Legislature) established the Study Commission on Water for Environmental Flows to conduct public hearings and study ways to balance the demands for the state’s water with environmental concerns including instream flow and freshwater inflow to bays and estuaries. Sabine River Authority of Texas General Manager and Executive Vice President Jerry Clark serves on this commission as an appointee of Governor Rick Perry. In accordance with and in the spirit of SB 1639, SRA-TX will approach its role in the Lower Sabine IFS with the objective of balancing the needs of the environment with growing water supply for the people of Texas.

Second Study Design Workgroup Meeting

The second workgroup meeting will be held in Orange, Texas, on November 18, 2008, from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Sabine River Authority of Texas Offices, 12777 Hwy 87 North (409-746-2192).

The agenda will be posted on the TIFP Web Site.

If you are able to attend, please RSVP the Texas Instream Flow Program by November 14.

First Study Design Workgroup Meeting

The first workgroup meeting related to development of an instream flow study design for the Lower Sabine River was held August 19 in Orange, TX. The workgroup was composed of members of the public, stakeholders, and agency staff who have agreed to work together. Meetings are open to the public. The workgroup developed the following goal: Our goal is a healthy, functioning Lower Sabine River Basin that has high quality water, sufficient flow and a sustainable ecosystem to assure a dynamic balance between human needs and the environment.

Stakeholder Meetings - May 6 and 7, 2008

Agenda and presentations (TWDB)

Complete meeting announcement: HTML | Adobe Acrobat PDF (requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader - see Helper Applications for download and installation instructions).

Map to meeting location.

For additional information, you may contact Ann Galassi (mailto:agalassi@sratx.org) or (409) 746-2192.

A Lower Sabine IFS Stakeholder Participation Meeting was held in Orange, Texas, from 2 - 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2005. The slide presentations given included the following:

• Overview of the Texas Instream Flow Program (Texas Water Development Board; 6.5 MB) This file requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader - see Helper Applications for download and installation instructions.
• Lower Sabine River Priority Instream Flow Study (Sabine River Authority of Texas; 630 KB)
• Lower Sabine River Reconnaissance Boat Trip (October 5-7, 2004) (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; 4.8 MB)

For More Information

• SRA-TX Instream Flows Fact Sheet
• Texas Water Code § 16.059. COLLECTION OF INSTREAM FLOW DATA; CONDUCT OF • STUDIES (Texas Water Code Website)
• Texas Instream Flows Program (Texas Water Development Board Website)
• Lower Sabine River Reconnaissance Boat Trip Photos - October 5-7, 2004 (Outstanding Web application with digital imagery maps that link to photographs)
• Science Advisory Committee to the Study Commission on Environmental Flows (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Website)