Sara Thornton

Background

About Sara Thornton

Sara Rachel Thornton is a principal at the law firm Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. and is a member of firm’s Water Practice Group and the Compliance and Enforcement Practice Group. She assists clients with various water supply and water quality permitting, compliance, and enforcement issues and has particular expertise in wastewater permitting, federal environmental legislative efforts, Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting, TCEQ enforcement, and compliance with the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Sara grew up in west Texas where she developed an appreciation for the conservation of natural resources. She attended Texas A&M University and received a B.S. in Renewable Natural Resources in 2002. During her senior year, Sara interned at the Colorado River Municipal Water District as a water quality specialist intern. Sara also completed a Master of Urban Planning at Texas A&M University in 2004. During her Masters, Sara conducted research in urban sprawl, collaborative ecosystem management, and wetland mitigation banking and was a co-author on several articles related to this research. She also collaborated on the development of the Comprehensive Plan and Economic Development Plan for the City of Navasota, Texas. Sara received her J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law in 2008. During law school, she also worked as a research assistant in the field of international water law. Sara joined Lloyd Gosselink in May 2008. Sara frequently speaks on water supply and water quality related topics, particularly regarding the potential impacts that federal regulation, such as the listing of species under the Endangered Species Act, can have on water supply and water quality projects. Sara is a member of the State Bar of Texas (Sections on Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Administrative Law), the Austin Bar Association, the Texas Water Conservation Association, and the Water Environment Association of Texas.