Last Updated on January 30, 2024
Reading Time: 3 min
Derek Boese, JD, PMP General Manager
Happy 4th of July! As we celebrate our Nation’s Independence this month, it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on all the freedoms we enjoy in our country. With that freedom comes responsibility – the responsibility for not only the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) but all those who live near the San Antonio River and enjoy it to act as stewards of our local freshwater resource.
For you, the readers and supporters of the River Authority blog, this could mean any number of things: volunteering with our River Warriors program to remove invasive apple snails, working a day at an event like Basura Bash to pick up trash along the river, or going to an upcoming Hazardous Household Waste drop-off event in Wilson, Karnes, or Goliad counties to get rid of items that can cause harm to human health by ending up in the landfill and your local creek or the San Antonio River. It could also mean something as simple as properly disposing of fishing lines while fishing on the river. There are numerous ways to be a #RiverProud citizen.
Be the first to know about Household Hazardous Waste Events by heading to our Events Page.
At the River Authority, we are responsible for taking care of the San Antonio River and the surrounding watershed in multiple ways. Our Hydraulic and Hydrologic Engineers are working hard to update floodplain maps for the region on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). One of the River Authority’s essential roles is communicating flood risks to the public. We invite you to participate in public meetings this fall, where we will roll out the new draft maps and explain how your risk may have changed due to new construction, rainfall, changing weather patterns, and other sources.
Watershed and Park Operations team members are out in the field every day – not only do they maintain the 41 dams the River Authority oversees throughout the region, but they maintain many of the parks and trails along our waterways. This includes one of the most heavily utilized parks in the region, the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Walk. They do this despite the record-breaking heat we have this summer.
The River Authority Mission Reach Operations Center(MROC) landscape and Lone Star teams cut and chopped a hackberry tree that recently fell at Acequia Park.
Our Utilities Department works 24/7 to ensure that our wastewater treatment plants in Northeast Bexar County service the wastewater produced by an ever-growing population and produce clean water that makes its’ way back into the watershed.
Our Brand & Communications Department is the team responsible for coordinating our important Don’t Let Litter Trash Your River initiative. They are active daily in educating and engaging the community in ways to contribute to the betterment of our local creeks and the river.
On September 24, 2021, the River Authority officially launched a new trash outreach initiative at a media event with support from Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, City of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and San Antonio Spurs player and Team USA gold medalist Keldon Johnson.
Our Environmental Services staff monitor the river’s health and watch for dangerous bacteria and chemicals, while our administrative and support staff work behind the scenes to keep the organization running smoothly. It takes a team effort!
We all are responsible for taking care of the natural resources around us, both for our health and safety and that of future generations. Thank you to River Authority staff, the countless River Warrior volunteers, community members who have taken the Don’t Let Litter Trash Your River pledge, and the people of Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties who do their part to keep the San Antonio River safe, clean, and enjoyable.
Derek
The River Reach is back!
River Reach is a quarterly, 12-page newsletter that is designed to inform the San Antonio River Authority’s constituents about the agency’s many projects, serve as a communication vehicle for the board of directors and foster a sense of unity and identity among the residents of Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties.
If you wish to be placed on the mailing list for River Reach, please contact us or complete the form.
