mission reach - restoring the san antonio river
DESCRIPTION
Presented at the TWCA Fall Conference 2012 www.twca.orgTRANSCRIPT
Restoring the San Antonio River
TWCA Fall Conference
October 25, 2012
Mission Concepción
Mission Espada
Mission San Juan
Mission San José
The Alamo
Photo Credit: opencontent
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Olmos Dam
Bypass Channel
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CREEK
ALAZAN
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RIVER
SAN
AN
TON
IO
ALAMO ST.
NUEVA ST.
HILDEBRAND AVE.
LEXIN
GTO
N AVE.
LEGEND
TRIBUTARY
HEAD WATERS
MISSIONESPADA
35
37
35
410
9090
81
81
281
281
CR
EE
K
SAN
PED
RO
APACHE
W E
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SAN JUANMISSION
SAN JOSEMISSION
CONCEPCIONMISSION
SAN ANTONIODOWNTOWN
CR
EE
K
MA
RT
INE
Z
ORIGINAL ALIGNMENTSOUTH OF DOWNTOWN
SACIP
Channelized River
Includes recirculation pumps to ensure adequate flow through downtown San Antonio
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.
Project Partners and BudgetPresented in millions of dollars
San Antonio River Authority (SARA) committed to Operation and Maintenance as construction phases are completed.
Total City County Private
FundsSAWS USACE
Concept Design $1.0 $0.3 $0.7 - - -
Downtown Reach $13.3 $2.4 $10.9 - - -
Eagleland $13.6 $6.2 $4.8 - - $2.6
Museum Reach Park
$12.6 $11 $1.6 - - -
Museum Reach Urban
$72.1 $52.3 $13.1 $6.5 $0.2 -
Mission Reach $245.7 $6.5 $176.6 $4.7 $6.0 $51.9
TOTAL $358.3 $78.7 $207.7 $11.2 $6.2 $54.5
Museum Reach
• 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
Mission Reach Project Budget
Total Bexar
County
Bexar
County Visitor
Tax
City SAWS Private USACE
Mission Reach Project
$245.7 $75.6 $39.7
+ $61.3
$101 total
$6.5 $6.0 $4.7 $51.9
In Millions of Dollars
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009: The non-Federal interest for the project may carry out design and construction work on the project in advance of Federal appropriations or may provide funds directly to the Secretary for the Secretary to carry out such work; Provided, That the Secretary of the Army shall reimburse the non-Federal interest for any costs incurred by the non-Federal interest that are in excess of the non-Federal share of total costs subject to the availability of appropriations.
In addition to the $115.3 million of Bexar County Flood Tax and Visitor Tax identified above, Bexar County is contributing another $61.3 million to advance federal funding to keep the project on the optimum schedule. Bexar County’s total contribution to the project is $176.6 million.
San Antonio River Authority is committed to Operation and Maintenance as construction phases are completed.
Pre-Channelization 2008 Channel
1954 USACE Authorized Channelization
Migratory Flyways of NorthAmerica:
CentralFlyway
Image: Texas Parks & Wildlife
Monarch Butterfly Migration
Site Hydrology
1. Upper gage (SAR at Mitchell St.)• Flow max: 14,300 cfs• Height max: 12.94 feet
2. Lower gage (SAR at Loop 410)• Flow max: 79,400 cfs• Height max: 32.57 feet
3. Overall range: 10 - 100,000 cfs
Ecoregions of San Antonio,Bexar County and Surrounding Areas
• Blackland Prairie
• Edwards Plateau
• South Texas Plains
• Post Oak Savanna
Blackland Prairie
Edwards Plateau
Post Oak Savanna
South Texas Plains
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: Mission Portals
Project Elements:Formal Landscapes
• Street Connections• Mission Portals• Pocket Parks & Plazas
Project Elements: Restoratio
n Plantings
Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration
* Per USACE study; based on scale with 1 as extremely degraded and 10 as pristine; proposed condition rating is at 50 year maturity period
Existing Riverine System Rating = 1.2*
Existing River Channel Proposed River Channel
Proposed Riverine System Rating = 8.2*
• 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
Restoring Trees & Shrubs
over 23,000
Draft Tree Planting Plans
Representation of 25 Year Progression
Mission Reach: Phase 1
• ~1 mile section
• “Soft Opening” Dec 2010
• Grand Opening June 25, 2011
• SARA O&M
• ~3,000 trees/shrubs planted Dec 2011, survivorship monitoring Spring 2013
Mission Reach: Phase 2• ~ 1 mile section
• Grand Opening June 25, 2011
• SARA: all non-vegetation O&M
• Contractor: vegetation management to meet performance criteria
• ~ 2,000 trees/shrubs to be planted Nov-Dec 2012
Mission Reach: Phase 3• ~ 6 mile section
• First segment opened June 2012
• Second segment opening October 27, 2012
• Third segment opening Spring 2013
• Final segment opening by Fall 2013
• ~18,000 trees/shrubs to be planted in 2014 and 2015
Operations & Maintenance: Balancing Storm Water Conveyance, Habitat Restoration and Recreational Uses
General O&M Task Prioritization
1. Safety 2. Structural failures3. Impediments to recreational uses,
particularly trails (e.g. fallen trees on the trail)
4. Vandalism, particularly highly visible areas
5. Routine activities (e.g. vegetation maintenance, litter, etc.)
Landscape Scale Ecosystem Restoration is a
Slow Process & Land Management is Critical to Achieve Goals
Year 1 Representation Year 25 Representation
General VegetationManagement and
Monitoring• Keep the good areas good
• Reduce invasive non-natives
• Encourage increased coverage by natives
• Replant as needed and feasible
• Maintain native species diversity
Plant communities changeover time and management must adapt to changes
• Seasons• Weather conditions• Plant succession• Disturbances
Spring Wildflowers Fall Grasses
Plant Community Dynamics
Plant Community Dynamics
May 2009 May 2010
O&M Challenges• Weather• Urban storm water runoff • Access for equipment• Ongoing/new projects• Good & bad plants together• Bad plants providing benefits• Pet & yard waste• Pedestrian traffic•
Herbaceous: 213 species• native: 165 (77%)
• planted: 93• volunteer & existing: 90
• non-native: 48 (23%)
Woody: 86 species• native: 73 (85%)
• planted: 55• volunteer & existing: 44
• non-native: 13 (15%)
Vegetation – 299 species documented
44
GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONCOMMUNITY COLLABORATION
San Antonio River Oversight Committee
(SAROC)• 22 member citizen’s oversight committee
formed in 1998
• Co-Chairs Lila Cockrell (former mayor) and Irby Hightower (architect)
• Remaining 20 seats filled by participating groups/organizations
• Museum Reach, Eagleland and Mission Reach Committees– Park, Urban and River South sub- committees
Educational Outreach
Community Events
MISSION REACH – LEADING THE NATION IN URBAN
ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION
SAN ANTONIO RIVER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
For More Information:Steven Schauer
210-302-3644
Lee Marlowe
210-302-3624
www.sanantonioriver.org
www.sara-tx.org