MINUTES 
                                           
                 STUDY COMMISSION ON WATER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS 
                            Wednesday, February 18, 2004 
                                     9:30 a.m. 
                         San Antonio City Council Chambers 
                                           
                                       ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Study Commission on Water for  
         Environmental Flows was held on Wednesday, February 18, 2004, in  
         the San Antonio City Council Chambers 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister              Joe Beal 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
         Representative Robert Puente 
         Representative Bill Callegari 
         Jerry L. Clark 
         Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons 
         Representative Charlie Geren 
         David Herndon 
         E.G. Rod Pittman 
         Andrew Sansom 
         Dr. Ben F.Vaughan IV 
          W..E. "Bill"  West, Jr. 
         Kathleen Hartnett White 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Co-Chair Puente called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:  
          
         Co-Chair Puente introduced Mayor Ed Garza.  Mayor Garza gave  
         welcoming comments to the commission and staff. 
          
         The Chair then had the members of the commission introduce  
         themselves.   
          
         Co-Chair Puente then moved adoption of the Commission Rules.   
         Representative Geren seconded the adoption of the rules and  
         without objection, the rules were adopted. 
          
         The Commission then heard invited testimony from: 
          
              Margaret Hoffman, Executive Director of Texas Commission on  
         Environmental Quality, gave an overview of water permitting in  
         Texas. 
          
              Justice Gregory J. Hobbs, Colorado Supreme Court, gave an  
         overview of water permitting in the Western United States. 
  
              Dr. Lauren Alexander, National Academy of Sciences, gave an  
         overview of scientific methodology studies being conducted. 
          
              Greg Rothe, Texas Water Conservation Association, gave an  
         Environmental Flows Proposal from his association. 
          
              Ken Kramer, Sierra Club and Myron Hess, National Wildlife  
         Federation, gave perspectives on environmental considerations. 
          
         Other Committee Business: 
          
         The legislation creating the Study Commission on Water for  
         Environmental Flows calls for the appointment of a Scientific  
         Advisory Committee to serve as impartial scientific advisors and  
         reviewers for the study commission.  Co-Chair Puente gave the  
         commission the proposed list of members of the scientific  
         committee and moved adoption.  Rep. Geren made a motion to  
         remove Dwight Shellman from the list and leave the position to  
         be filled later.  Senator Staples objected. 
         The motion failed by a record vote of 6 ayes, 7 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 2 absent.  Co-Chair Puente then moved to adopt  
         the scientific advisory committee, without objection, it was  
         adopted. 
          
         There being no further business, at 12:50 p.m. Representative  
         Puente moved that the Commission stand recessed subject to the  
         call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister, Co-Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Representative Robert Puente, Co-Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         RuthAnn Nicholson, Clerk