Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Catarina Gonzales to the Environmental Flows Advisory Group for a term to expire at the pleasure of the Governor. The Advisory Group was created by the 80th Texas Legislature. The Group conducts public hearings and study public policy implications for balancing the demands on the water resources of the state resulting from a growing population and the requirements of the riverine, bay, and estuary systems. In the course of their study, this Advisory Group will look at items including granting permits for instream flows dedicated to environmental needs or bay and estuary inflows, use of the Texas Water Trust, and any other issues that the advisory group determines have importance and relevance to the protection of environmental flows. Catarina Gonzales has served as a Commissioner for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality since February 2024. Previously, she was a budget and policy advisor for the Office of the Governor. More information on the Advisory Group can be found here. The group is also composed of the following eight members:
- Senator Joan Huffman, Co-presiding Officer
- Representative John Kuempel, Co-presiding Officer
- Senator Brandon Creighton
- Senator Lois Kolkhorst
- Representative Ernest Bailes
- Representative Rhetta Bowers
- Chair Brooke Paup, Texas Water Development Board
- Commissioner Richard “Dick” Scott, Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission