SAN ANTONIO RIVER BASIN WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY THE URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP ABOUT THE URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP The San Antonio River Basin within Bexar County is a newly selected location for the nation's Urban Waters Federal Partnership. This partnership will reconnect urban communities, particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed, with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies and collaborating with community-led revitalization efforts to improve our nation's water systems and promote their economic, environmental and social benefits. Specifically, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership will: • Break down federal program silos to promote more efficient and effective use of federal resources through better coordination and targeting of federal investments. • Recognize and build on local efforts and leadership, by engaging and serving community partners. • Work with local officials and effective community-based organizations to leverage area resources and stimulate local economies to create local jobs. • Learn from early and visible victories to fuel long-term action. Led by 14 federal agencies and coordinated by the White House Domestic Policy Council and White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership closely aligns with and advances the work of the White House's place- based efforts, including the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, to revitalize communities, create jobs and improve the quality of life in cities and towns across the nation. The Urban Waters Federal Partnership also advances the work of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative. For more information, visit www.urbanwaters.gov ABOUT THE SAN ANTONIO PARTNERSHIP The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development co-chair this location. A number of federal agencies are engaged in projects with local officials and community members such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation, the Economic Development Administration, Health and Human Services, Small Business Administration, and the General Services Administration. ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER BASIN The San Antonio River Basin extends through 15 counties in south Texas. The San Antonio River, with its headwaters in Bexar County, is the basin's major river flowing 240 miles to San Antonio Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. San Antonio's rivers and creeks have been of great importance to those who live in the region throughout history, from pre-colonial times, to the founding of the San Antonio Missions, to the Riverwalk today. The San Antonio community has made significant investments to maintain the connection to its waterways. Local stakeholders are looking forward to the partnership's assistance in providing additional nexus to other federal agencies that can support existing efforts in a more robust way and providing linkages where possible. WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW In an effort to improve public access to waterways, improve water quality, and restore the ecosystem, the Partnership is engaged in a number of joint federal/local projects: San Pedro Creek Restoration A portion of the San Pedro Creek runs through downtown San Antonio. Flood prevention efforts from the 1960's and 70's severely reduced the community's traditional connection to the creek. Bexar County funded a preliminary study in 2012 to develop concepts for restoring the environmental conditions of the creek. Creek restoration will provide increased opportunities for people to enjoy the waterway and be the catalyst for economic development. In 2014, Bexar County entered into an agreement with the San Antonio River Authority ------- to begin the design phase of the restoration. Design is expected to be completed and construction will begin in 2016. The GSA has selected a site at the banks of the San Pedro Creek for a new Federal Courthouse for the Western District of Texas. Olmos Basin Ecosystem Restoration This project intends to restore a three mile segment of the Olmos Creek, prevent floatable debris from entering the creek and address the continual flooding of U.S. Highway 281 over the creek, responding to the San Antonio North Central Community plan to restore natural beauty and habitat of Olmos Basin Park. The project combines water quality improvements and ecosystem restoration to create a more natural habitat. The Army Corps of Engineers agreed in 2014 to fund the restoration project. Eastside Promise Zone and Promise/Choice Neighborhood San Antonio's near east side is a historically disadvantaged and minority community. The area has been the focus of several place-based grants and designations increasing the potential for overlapping federal and local funding to promote comprehensive community development. The Eastside area is connected to the City's Salado Creek Greenway trail system through Menger Creek. In an effort to increase neighborhood connections to green spaces the City of San Antonio and Bexar County have committed funds to a project that will improve drainage, reduce the 100- year flood zone, and provide park and trail improvements around Menger creek. WHAT'S NEXT Westside Creeks Restoration Located near the west side of central San Antonio and in close proximity to three San Antonio Housing Authority properties, the Alazan, Apache, and Martinez creeks, have been the focus of a community-based planning effort since 2008 to develop concepts for restoring the environmental condition of the creeks. In 2011, the Army Corps of Engineers chose the creeks as one of five national pilot studies to test a new planning paradigm in ecosystem restoration feasibility studies. The report was completed in 2014. Hike and bike trails are planned for the creeks; a larger restoration effort would work in conjunction with these projects and provide spaces for physical activity and recreation. Brackish Groundwater Desalination The San Antonio Water System is developing a brackish groundwater desalination project that will diversify the region's water supplies. An additional source of water will help preserve endangered species within the Edwards Aquifer, the primary source of water for over two million people, and in its natural springs. THE URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP The partnership includes: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of the Army (Army Corps of Engineers), U.S. Department of Commerce (Economic Development Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), Corporation for National and Community Services, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Transportation, and FEMA. San Antonio Missions - World Heritage The five eighteenth century Spanish colonial mission complexes along the San Antonio River are in consideration to be designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Designation as a World Heritage site would increase the areas visibility and create a substantial economic impact. The multi-organization group seeking the designation, which includes Bexar County, the National Park Service, the San Antonio Conservation Society, and the San Antonio River Authority, is working on a feasibility study to identify opportunities for connecting sites and routes associated with El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail to the San Antonio Mission National Historical Park to provide a living resource with enhanced historic and recreation opportunities. For more information on the San Antonio River Basin Urban Waters Federal Partnership, please contact the lead agency representatives: Adele Cardenas U.S. EPA (214) 665-7210 Cardenas.adele@epa.gov Richard Lopez U.S. HUD (210) 475-6806 Richard.l.lopez@hud.gov ------- |