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SAN ANTONIO RIVER IMPROVEMENTS

PROJECT

September 28, 2009

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Project Limits

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Project Partners

• City of San Antonio– Provides project funding for project amenities (i.e.. Sidewalks,Landscaping, Lighting, etc.) and recreation. San Antonio Water System is providing funding for utility relocation

• Bexar County– Provides project funding for flood control and river restoration elements of the project

• San Antonio River Authority (SARA)– Provides project administration and management

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)– Provides federal funding for river restoration and some recreational components

• San Antonio River Foundation– Provides private funding to support project

• San Antonio River Oversight Committee– A 22 person citizens committee established in 1998 with members appointed by the City, County and SARA representing the various neighborhood and business stakeholders along the river.

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Project Budget

Total City County Private Funds

SAWS 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

Mission Reach $271.9 $4.5 $115.3 $4.8 $6.0 $141.3

Museum Reach Urban

$72.1 $52.3 $13.1 $6.5 $0.2 -

Museum Reach Park

$12.6 $11 $1.6 - - -

TOTAL $384.5 $76.7 $146.4 $11.3 $6.2 $143.9

Presented in millions of dollars

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Project Benefits

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

• Flood Damage Reduction – Project will maintain or decrease the elevation of the 100 year floodplain.

• 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 Reach: Urban SegmentLexington Ave. to Josephine Street

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Hugman Dam looking downstream

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Brooklyn Ave. at Lock and Dam

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Roy Smith Street looking downstream

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Turning Basin at the Pearl looking downstream

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‘Shimmer Field’by Martin Richman at Lexington Ave

Photos: San Antonio River Foundation and Mark Menjivar

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‘29° 25' 57" N / 98° 29' 13" W’by Stuart Allen at McCullough and Brooklyn Streets

Photos: San Antonio River Foundation and Mark Menjivar

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‘Under the Over Bridge’by Mark Schlesinger at 9th Street

Photos: San Antonio River Foundation and Mark Menjivar

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‘Sonic Passage’by Bill Fontana at Jones Avenue (Sound Art)

Photos: San Antonio River Foundation and Mark Menjivar

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‘F.I.S.H.’by Donald Lipski

at I‐35

Photos: San Antonio River Foundation and Mark Menjivar

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‘The Grotto’by Carlos Cortes 

at Camden & Newell Streets

Photos: San Antonio River Foundation and Mark Menjivar

• Museum Reach Park Segment: Extends from Josephine Street to Hildebrand Avenue

• Priority Betterments as approved by the San Antonio River Oversight Committee:

– Initial Trail Construction (to connect Josephine Street to Avenue B) with signage

– Habitat Restoration and Temporary Irrigation

– Removal of invasive plants and debris Removal, Channel Stabilization along San Antonio River and Catalpa-Pershing Channel

– Wetlands at Witte– Acequia Madre flow diversion– Additional trail connections and

improvements along Avenue B, to Mulberry and Avenue A and to and through Brackenridge Park up to Hildebrand Avenue

– New pedestrian bridge at Mulberry

Museum Reach Park Segment

Park Segment Concepts

Under US 281

Along Catalpa Channel

Along Avenue ANear Hildebrand at Historic Upper Labor

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Mission Reach: Project Limits

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

ProposedRiverine System Rating = 8.2*

• 20,000+ young trees • 334 acres of riparian woodland habitat• 113 acres of aquatic habitat • 31 riffles • 13 acres of embayment• 2 river remnants: San Juan & Espada

Restoring Habitat Features

Photos: Sally & Andy Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Native Grasses & Wildflowers Native Trees & Shrubs

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A partial list of trees and vegetation to be planted and of the wildlife that will be supported by the Mission Reach project:

BIRDS:•American Woodcock

•Winter Wren

•Red-eyed Vireo

•Peregrine Falcon

•Reddish Egret

•Yellow-billed Cuckoo

•Red-winged Blackbird

•Belted Kingfisher

•Red-headed Woodpecker

VEGETATION:•Live Oak

•Pecan

•Sycamore

•Cypress

•American Elm

•Anaqua

•Redbud

•Sugar Hackberry

•Condalia

•Native grasses

•Bluebonnets and other native flowers

FISH:•Bluegill

•Channel Catfish

•Red Shiner

•Yellow Bullhead

•Largemouth Bass

•Green Sunfish

•Texas Shiner

•Gizzard Shad

•Central Stoneroller

Ecological & Cultural Connections

• Throughout the 1700’s development of what is now known as the City of San Antonio, occurred when Spanish Colonial missions were established near the natural river banks for the access to water and food.

• Restoring the river will re-establish the ecological context of the historic Spanish Missions; The project will reconnect the river’s significance to the National Park Service’s San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

Mission San Jose

Mission Concepcion

Mission Espada

Mission San Juan

Restoration Project Limits: Mission Reach

Phase 1: Construction underway; completion spring 2010

Phase 2A: Construction award Nov. 2009; duration 12-18 months

Phase 2B, 2C & 3:Construction award March 2010; duration 3 years

Phase 4: Construction award June 2010; duration 3 years

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Phase 1 - Roosevelt Park

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Phase 1 – Mitchell St.

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Phase 1 - Weir and Pedestrian Bridge

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Phase I Betterments

• Enhanced weirs and riffles • Additional trail at Lone Star

Brewery• Upgraded trail surface • Under-bridge improvements

for future art features• Additional aquatic plants• Art enhancements

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Mission Reach ConceptUpgraded Trail Surfaces and Seating Area

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Phase 2A Betterments

• Pocket park street connection at Theo

• Additional trail on west bank from Theo to Mission Road

• Additional fly over bridge at Concepcion Creek

• Upgraded shaded structure • Upgraded trail surface • Portal at Mission Concepcion

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Pocket park street connection at Theo

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Phase 2A Betterments – Trail/Bridge

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Phase 2A Betterments – Shade Structure

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Mission Reach Phase II

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Mission Reach Phase III

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Phase 2 B,C and Phase 3 Betterments

Phase II B,C• Additional trail at Hot Wells • Enhancements to San Juan Diversion Structure• Street connections at Mission, Roosevelt,

Southcross and VFW.• Mission Portals/Connection to Mission Trails for

Mission Concepcion and Mission San Jose • Art enhancements

Phase III• Additional trails near Davis Lake/Military Dr.• Overlook at Espada Park• Habitat/ecosystem restoration improvements to

San Antonio River remnant at Symphony Lane

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Mission Reach Phase IV

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Phase 4 Betterments

• Mission Portals/Connection to Mission Trails at Mission San Juan and Mission Espada

• Overlook at bottomland hardwood forest near Piedras Creek

• Create picnic area across from Historic Espada Dam

• Create art project at Bergs Mill• Restore Historic San Antonio River

bridge at Ashley Road and river remnant

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For More SARIP Information

www.sanantonioriver.org• Information on project status• Design details• Project history• Construction progress photos