Alamo Region Livability Summit August 21, 2013

Alamo RegionLivability Summit

August 21, 2013

PROJECTPARTNERS• Bexar County• City of San Antonio• San Antonio River Authority• San Antonio River Foundation• San Antonio River Oversight

Committee• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Project Benefits• Flood Damage Reduction – Project will

maintain or decrease the elevation of the 100 year floodplain.

• Ecosystem Restoration – The changes proposed will increase water quality and the quantity and diversity of plant and animal species.

• Quality of Life – Add to San Antonio’s unique charm and make the city more attractive to residents, visitors, and businesses and provide enhanced recreational opportunities along an expanded linear park system.

• Cultural Connections – Linking people, neighborhoods and cultural resources and celebrating the historical connection of the river to four of the five historic missions in the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

• Economic Development – Promote business development along and adjacent to the river. Improvements will also enhance tourism.

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Museum ReachUrban Segment

• Opened May 2009• 1.3 miles from

Lexington Ave. (on south) to Josephine St. (on north)

• “Park Segment” continues north up to Hildebrand Ave.

• Locks & dam• Landscaping• Water features• Signage

Museum ReachProject Features

• Benches• Overlooks• Art

• 70,000 plants • 300 trees• 140 pallets grass• varied conditions: full sun to full shade

Museum Reach LandscapeDetails

Hugman Dam looking downstream

Roy Smith Street looking downstream

Turning Basin at the Pearl looking upstream

Photos: San Antonio River Foundation and Mark Menjivar

• 8 mile ecosystem restoration and recreation project

• Restoring river previously channelized by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control

Mission Reach: Project Limits

Project Elements: Recreational Features

• 15+ miles of hike/bike trails• 8 street connections• 89 benches• 137 picnic tables• 5 overlooks with shade

structures• 9 water edge landings• 6 foot bridges • 4 pavilions

Project Elements:Formal Landscapes

• Street Connections• Mission Portals

• Pocket Parks & Plazas

• 8 miles river length• ~113 acres• Riffles, runs & pools• ~13 acres embayments (marshes)• 2 river remnants restored• Aquatic plants:

• 20 species• Emergent, submersed & floating

leaved

Restoring Aquatic Habitat Features

• ~334 acres• Herbaceous Groundcover:

• 60+ native grass & wildflower species• Over 10,000 pounds of seed

• Woody Plants:• 44 native tree & shrub species• 23,000+ young trees & shrubs

Restoring Riparian Woodland

Mission Reach: Phase 1• 1.25 mile section from Lone Star Blvd to confluence with

San Pedro Creek• Construction completed in June 2011 total construction cost

$35.1 M • SARA Responsible for Operation and Maintenance

Mission Reach: Phase 2• One mile section from confluence with San Pedro Creek to

Mission Road• Construction completed in June 2011 for a total cost of $22.7

M. • SARA responsible for Operations and Maintenance

Mission Reach: Phase 3• 5.75 mile section from Mission Road to Mission Espada• Construction underway total contract $99.3 M • Trails open on three miles of phase to near Mission San Juan;

Grand Opening of remainder of phase is Oct. 2013• Paddling is recreational option on Phase 3

Landscape Scale Ecosystem Restoration is a

Slow Process & Land Management is Critical to Achieve Goals

Year 1 Representation Year 25 Representation

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Operations & Maintenance: Balancing Storm Water Conveyance, Habitat Restoration and Recreational Uses

SA Water Quality Threats

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Non-Point Source Pollution

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http://www.acogok.org/Programs_and_Services/Water_Resources/Storm_Water.asp

http://gordonenergy.com/erosion-control-silt-fences.php

http://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/urban-runoff-negatively-impacts-stream-biodiversity

http://www.hrwc.org/author/riclawson/

The effects of urban runoff

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Toward Solutions

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• Low Impact Development

• Green Infrastructure

• Conservation Development

• Triple Bottom Line Analysis

Economic• Operation and

Maintenance• Construction Cost• Debt Service• Regional Development• Avoided/Induced

Damages or Costs

Eco-Efficiency• Waste Handling• Energy Use• Land Productivity

Environment• Ecosystem Services• Water Quality• Habitat• GHG Emissions

Socio-Environmental• Land Use• Stewardship• Recreation

Quality of Life• Employee

Attraction/Retention• Sense of Security• Community Cohesion• Intrinsic/Existence Value• Cultural and Historic

Values

Socio-Economic• Recreation• Property Values• Utility / Infrastructure

Reliability• Health and Safety

SARA - Triple Bottom Line Evaluation Criteria

• Develop concepts for restoring the environmental condition of the Alazan, Apache, Martinez and San Pedro Creeks

• Maintain the current flood control components of these creeks

• Provide increased opportunities for people to enjoy these urban creeks

Westside Creeks Restoration

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• Heavily urbanized• Channelized in 1960s

• San Antonio Channel Improvement Project (SACIP)

• Channelized portions of:• San Antonio River• Alazan Creek• Apache Creek• Martinez Creek• San Pedro Creek

Study Area

Project Location

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- Alazan Creek

- Apache Creek

- Martinez Creek

- San Pedro Creek

Total Length: 14.1 Miles

Current Conditions

San Pedro Creek

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Questions?Suzanne Scott• sbscott@sara-tx.org• 210-227-1373

San Antonio River Authority (SARA)• www.sara-tx.org

You can follow SARA on Twitter at @sanantonioriver or like SARA on Facebook at @sanantonioriver