Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Updates - Marty Kelly

Presented at June 6-7 Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts Business Meeting

2. Marty Kelly
Water Resources Program
Coordinator
Coastal Fisheries Division
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department

Texas Alliance of
Groundwater Districts
June 7, 2024

3. •Water Resources Program
•TPWD Land and Water Conservation
and Recreation Plan
•Environmental Flows
•TPWD’s role in the Texas Water Trust
•Environmental Flow Information
Toolkit (EFIT)

4. Water
Resources
Program

5. Water Resources Program Focal Areas
To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texasand to provide hunting, fishing and
outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
TECHNICAL GUIDANCE
AND CONSULTATION
PLANNING STEWARDSHIPMONITORING AND
RESEARCH

6. 2024 – 2033 Land and Water Resources
Conservation and Recreation Plan
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/land-and-water-plan
Objective 2 – Provide technical assistance,
scientific tools, and strategies to restore and
protect healthy aquatic ecosystems
Strategy 2.7 - Foster the restoration and
protection of healthy aquatic ecosystems by
promoting and facilitating the voluntary transfer
of water rights to the Texas Water Trust or a
suitable non-profit water trust.
Action 2.3 – Facilitate eight voluntary
environmental water transactions, flow
agreements, or water level agreements by 2033
that focus on conserving fish and wildlife
resources and enhancing outdoor recreation
opportunities.

7. Environmental
Flows
The quantity, timing,
and quality of water
flows required to
sustain freshwater and
estuarine ecosystems
and the goods and
service of humans.

8. Senate Bill 3 (2007)
•Senate Bill 3 (2007) mandated the development
of environmental flow standards for
new/amended water rights
•2014 environmental flow standards established
through the Bays and Basins Expert Science
(BBEST) and Advisory Committee (BBASC)
process.
•All River Basins and Bays in Texas except the
Cypress, Red, Canadian Rivers.

9. TPWD’s Role in the
Texas Water Trust
•House Bill 2225 (87th Legislature)
•Texas Water Code 15.7031
•The Parks and Wildlife Dept. may manage
rights in the Trust
•Parks and Wildlife Code 12.028
•“the Department shall encourage and
facilitate the dedication of water rights in
the Texas Water Trust through lease,
donation, purchase, or other means of
voluntary transfer for environmental
needs…”

10. TPWD and
Environmental Flows
Sustainable Rivers
Program
State Wildlife Grants
River Authorities

11. Environmental Flow Information Toolkit (EFIT)

12. EFIT in Action

13. [email protected]
(512) 389 - 8214