The following is a condensed timeline of the events that ultimately led to the Brazos River Authority (BRA) being granted the System Operation (SysOps) Permit. The SysOps Permit is a one-of-a-kind water right permit, wherein the entire permitting process lasted over 14 years.
All documents referenced below, such as the SysOps Permit, the Water Management Plan, and the Drought Study, can be found on the System Operation Permit & Conformed 2018 Water Management Plan page.
Jun 2004
BRA Filed SysOps Permit Application
BRA filed the SysOps Permit Application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
The TCEQ is the state agency responsible for regulating and issuing permits for surface water in Texas.
Oct 2004
Application Declared Administratively Complete
TCEQ declared the SysOps Permit Application administratively complete.
When water right applications are declared administratively complete, meaning the applications contain all necessary information for review, they are given a priority date. The SysOps Permit application’s priority date is October 15, 2004.
Apr 2005
TCEQ Issued Notice of Application
After completing the technical review of a water right application, TCEQ issued notice of the SysOps Permit Application.
Notice was published in basin newspapers and mailed to individual water right holders.
May 2005
Public Meeting Held
A public meeting was held regarding the SysOps Permit Application.
Jun 2007
Senate Bill 3 (SB3) Passed
Senate Bill 3 (SB3) was passed by the Texas State Legislature.
SB3 established the process by which environmental flow standards were developed in Texas.
Feb 2010
TCEQ Issued Draft SysOps Permit
TCEQ issued a draft SysOps Permit.
At that time, draft permits were developed after notice was issued. TCEQ has since changed this process and now includes draft permits within the notice package.
May 2010 –
Oct 2011
1st SOAH Hearing Completed
The SysOps Draft Permit completed its first State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) proceeding.
SOAH is the independent agency responsible for hearing and mediating administrative disputes. TCEQ must refer permits to SOAH if a contested case hearing is officially requested.
Jan 2012
Water Management Plan Required
The TCEQ Executive Director required BRA to develop a Water Management Plan (WMP).
Nov 2012
Amended Application & WMP Filed
BRA filed an amended SysOps Application and Water Management Plan (WMP) with TCEQ.
Jul 2013
Notice Issued for Amended Application & WMP
TCEQ issued notice of the amended SysOps Application and WMP.
Notice was published basin-wide and sent to individual water right holders.
Apr 2014
Brazos Watermaster Program Established
Over thirty water right holders petitioned TCEQ to establish a Watermaster Program in the Brazos River Basin to protect senior water right holders.
All of BRA’s permits, including the SysOps Permit, are subject to the Watermaster Program.
May 2014
Updated WMP Filed
BRA filed an updated WMP incorporating environmental flow standards established under SB3.
TCEQ established environmental flow standards for the Brazos River Basin in March 2014.
Jun 2015
Brazos Basin Drought Ended
The drought in the Brazos Basin, which began in 2011, ended.
Jul 2015
2nd SOAH Hearing Completed
The SysOps Permit and WMP completed a second State Office of Administrative Hearings proceeding.
Jan 2016 –
Jun 2016
Special Hearing Ordered
The TCEQ Executive Director issued an order requiring the SysOps Application to return to SOAH for a special hearing on specific issues.
Nov 2016
SysOps Permit Issued
Following the special hearing, TCEQ issued the SysOps Permit with various special conditions and authorizations.
Aug 2017
Drought Study Submitted
BRA submitted the required Drought Study to TCEQ.
The study concluded that the 2011–2015 drought was not a new basin-wide drought of record.
Apr 2018
Conformed WMP Approved
TCEQ approved BRA’s Conformed Water Management Plan.
The Conformed WMP includes descriptions and technical data supporting the SysOps Permit’s special conditions and authorizations.
Aug 2018
District Court Affirms Permit
A District Court Judge ruled that the SysOps Permit is valid as granted.
Apr 2019
Additional Water Approved for Contracting
BRA’s Board of Directors approved additional water made available under the SysOps Permit for long-term contracting.
Nov 2023
1st WMP Update Began
BRA began the required first update to the WMP.
As a special condition of the permit, BRA must submit an updated WMP every ten years from November 2016.
Mar 2025
Water Dedicated to TPWD
BRA dedicated 6,035 acre-feet of water to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
Through a Memorandum of Understanding, BRA pledged a portion of SysOps water for environmental uses.
Nov 2026
1st WMP Amendment Due
The first WMP Amendment Application is due to TCEQ.