I grew up along Balcones Creek, a small, intermittent tributary to Cibolo Creek. I was able to spend countless hours exploring the dry creek bed in the summer and the flowing stream after rainfall. As a child, I was often outdoors with my family, enjoying many rivers throughout the Texas Hill Country, including the Lower Colorado, Guadalupe, Medina, and Frio Rivers. My most fond memories come from the Nueces River, where my family would take camping trips every year to the “Secret Spot”, a hidden gem that I couldn’t get back to if I tried. These trips were formative and established my love for our local environments and desire to protect and enhance these ecosystems we rely on.
Nueces River (Photo Credit: Nueces River Authority)
Although we visited many Texas rivers, I rarely visited the San Antonio River aside from occasional trips to the Riverwalk when out-of-town family would visit. My first true exposure to the San Antonio River came when I landed at the River Authority in 2016 as an intern in the Environmental Sciences Department while enrolled in graduate school at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In my 18 months as an intern, I was able to see more of the San Antonio River than I had ever imagined. I helped the team of Aquatic Biologists perform routine water quality and biological monitoring efforts throughout the entire river basin. We were responsible for performing work from the headwaters of the Medina River in Medina County all the way down to the confluence with the Guadalupe River near the Gulf Coast — over 200 miles away. Prior to this work, I hadn’t appreciated the diversity of landscape and wildlife that occurs within the San Antonio River Basin. The basin encompasses four ecoregions, from the Edwards Plateau in the Hill Country to the Western Gulf Coastal Plains near the coast, and the unique wildlife communities in these various landscapes.
Davis conducts a habitat survey along Leon Creek (2017).
As a Senior Aquatic Biologist for the River Authority, I have been able to work on a variety of projects that seek to enhance our local creeks and rivers. I have been fortunate enough to be able to paddle most of the 240-mile San Antonio River to better understand our native freshwater mussel communities. The enhanced knowledge of our local mussels has led to the first freshwater mussel reintroduction in Texas, which helped reintegrate native mussels into the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River last year. These animals hold both cultural and ecological significance, and I am proud to be able to work toward reintroducing these animals in a restored section of river where they previously thrived. Additionally, I get to work on monitoring the ecological restoration of various areas like the Mission Reach, Westside Creeks, and Otilla Dam. The monitoring projects measure how the river responds to restoration by tracking the changes in water quality, habitat characteristics, and the types of insects and fish found in the creeks and rivers. Finally, my work at the River Authority includes the monitoring and management of invasive species, namely Zebra Mussels and Giant Apple Snails. Giant Apple Snails are established within the San Antonio River, but the Zebra Mussels are not; however, our team of Aquatic Biologists is monitoring the presence and acting to remove the species where present.
Left: Davis collects Flathead Catfish for freshwater mussel reintroduction (2024)—these fish are some of the host fish that are an integral part of the mussel life cycle. Right: Davis holds a Juvenile Pistolgrip mussel with a tracking device at reintroduction into the Mission Reach (2024).
I have a deep appreciation for our local creeks and rivers, and I’ve had the pleasure of living in various parts of the city, enjoying the natural amenities. I’ve resided near the intermittent Leon Creek, where I love hiking and mountain biking on the greenway trails. I’ve also lived by the Eagleland stretch of the San Antonio River, taking daily walks along its restored reach. Currently, I live near San Pedro Springs Park, where I enjoy the oldest park in Texas and the historic springs that feed San Pedro Creek. I take pride in working to enhance our local ecosystems, fostering community engagement with nature and supporting the wildlife that inhabits them. Join me in preserving and celebrating these vital natural spaces for generations to come!
Today’s blog was contributed by Austin Davis, Senior Aquatic Biologist at the River Authority. Austin has 9 years’ experience in a variety of environmental disciplines including terrestrial and aquatic ecology, industrial hygiene, and environmental compliance. Austin serves as the project manager for the River Authority’s Freshwater Mussel Reintroduction Project and leads a team of Aquatic Biologists who conduct routine monitoring and studies involving water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and mussels throughout the San Antonio River Basin.
The “My River POV” series provides readers the opportunity to learn about the unique insight and experiences of the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) staff and their connection to the San Antonio River in hopes of inspiring stewardship of area creeks and rivers.
