San Antonio Channel Improvement Project MISSION REACH ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT. Welcome Assistant Secretary (CW) Jo-Ellen Darcy December 8, 2009

Transcription

1 San Antonio Channel Improvement Project MISSION REACH ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT Welcome Assistant Secretary (CW) Jo-Ellen Darcy December 8,

2 Presentation Overview Review history of San Antonio River Build a greener and fully-functional ecosystem Complete project faster Exemplify government and community collaboration Create a better community and nation 2

3 3 Historic San Antonio River

4 Then: 1890 Abundant native trees, grass and other riparian vegetation. Mission San José can be seen in the background. 4

5 5 Historic Flooding

6 SACIP Timeline 1946 Flood - Lives lost 1960 s s Channelization of 31 miles of the San Antonio River and its tributaries 1998 Flood Downtown protected by flood tunnels. Tunnels pay for themselves in one event SACIP authorized 1980 s s Completion of two underground flood tunnels on San Antonio River and San Pedro Creek

7 Pre-1960s Channelization 2008 Channel 7

8 HILDEBRAND AVE. LEXINGTON AVE. ALAZAN NUEVA ST. CREEK CREEK ALAMO ST. SAN ANTONIO RIVER 8 90 Channelized River LEGEND SACIP ORIGINAL ALIGNMENT SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN TRIBUTARY HEAD WATERS CREEK 281 MARTINEZ N W E S DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO CREEK APACHE PEDRO SAN MISSION CONCEPCION 81 MISSION SAN JOSE MISSION SAN JUAN 410 ESPADA MISSION

9 Current State Designed to move as much water as possible out of the area Has very little habitat value Has very little economic value Has very little cultural or artistic value Has very little recreational value 9

10 Now: non-native dominated plant community 1. Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) 2. Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) Images: 1. USDA, NRCS The PLANTS Database ( 3 July 2008). 2. University of Texas Austin Image Archive of Central Texas Plants (

11 Mission Reach: 1990 s -- Present 1993 SARA Board of Directors and San Antonio City Council adopt resolutions supporting a conceptual plan for San Antonio River from Guenther Street to Espada Dam and from Nueva Street to U.S. Highway Congress passes the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to expand project to include ecosystem restoration and recreation Finalize local concept design USACE completes GRR USACE and SARA PED agreement Late 1990 s SARA and Bexar County, in cooperation with City of San Antonio complete and San Antonio River Flood Control Channel Modifications Preliminary Engineering Analysis Report Committee of Six forms San Antonio River Oversight Committee Today Assistant Secretary of the Army approves GRR and requests OMB to consider budgeting ecosystem restoration project SARA and USACE execute PCA Initiate construction Phase 1 Awarded $25.4 M in stimulus funding

12 Project Limits 13 miles of improvements to San Antonio River Project initiated in 1997 Two reaches complete Two reaches under construction 12

13 Mission Reach: Project Limits 8 mile ecosystem restoration and recreation project Restoring river previously channelized by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control 13

14 14 BUILD A GREENER AND FULLY- FUNCTIONAL ECOSYSTEM

15 Ecosystem Restoration Promotes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ecosystem Restoration Objectives Restores previously channelized (degraded) ecosystem in densely populated area Exemplifies model urban ecosystem restoration Supports a greener Corps by restoring a fully functional, healthy ecosystem Applies proven science-based engineering techniques 15

16 Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration Existing River Channel Proposed River Channel Existing Riverine System Rating = 1.2* Proposed Riverine System Rating = 8.2* * per USACE study; based on scale with 1 as extremely degraded and 10 as pristine; proposed condition rating is at 50 year maturity period

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

18 Ecosystem Restoration: In Progress Engineered restoration features using erosion control fabric and spur dikes. A point bar is forming on inside bend of pilot channel Riffle structure with erosion control fabric in the background

19 Native Species Butterfly On scarlet salvia Stonefly larva Longear sunfish Red-shouldered hawk in cypress Red-eared slider Red shiner Blacktail shiner Water primrose hornworm moth on water primrose Yellow-crowned night heron Bluegill

20 Tree & Shrub Densities Woody species planting densities were determined by USACE using hydrologic flood models and resistance to flow (Manning s equation) 250 stems/acre 70 stems/acre 27 stems/acre 0 stems/acre

21 Vegetation Zones

22 Mission Reach over time Natural Succession takes place over centuries This goal of this project is to take the Mission Reach from a man made drainage ditch to a Climax Community in ~50 years For maximum success, grasses need to be established, then small trees planted Constant monitoring and control will be necessary in the future 22

23 Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration Native Grasses and Wildflowers

24 Plant Materials All plant material must be of acceptable origin from Bexar county or appropriate adjacent ecoregions Edwards Plateau Blackland Prairie South Texas Plains Post Oak Savanah Texas Forest Service under contract to collect and grow all woody plant materials Photos: Texas Forest Service

25 25 COMPLETE PROJECT FASTER

26 Project Partners and Budget Total City County Private Funds Presented in millions of dollars SAWS Concept Design $1.0 $0.3 $ USACE Downtown Reach $13.3 $2.4 $ Eagleland $13.6 $6.2 $ $2.6 Museum Reach Park $12.6 $11 $ Museum Reach Urban $72.1 $52.3 $13.1 $6.5 $0.2 - Mission Reach $271.9 $4.5 $115.3 $4.8 $6.0 $141.3 TOTAL $384.5 $76.7 $146.4 $11.3 $6.2 $ San Antonio River Authority committed to Operation and Maintenance as construction phases are completed.

27 Project Budget In Millions of Dollars Total Bexar Bexar City SAWS Private USACE County County Visitor Tax Mission Reach Project $271.9 $75.6 $39.7 $4.5 $6.0 $4.8 $141.3 Bexar County has committed local funding if necessary to ensure completion of the Mission Reach project by % of voters voted to extend visitors tax to support the Mission Reach Project 27 Request for FY 2011 budget is $84.8 million to meet remaining federal share of construction cost.

28 Betterments and Enhancements

29 Mission Reach Phases: Accelerated Schedule Phase 1: Construction underway; completion spring 2010 Phase 2A: Construction award Dec. 2009; duration months Phase 2B, 2C & 3: Construction award March 2010; duration 3 years Phase 4: Construction award June 2010; duration 3 years Completion in 2013

30 1.25 mile section from Lone Star Blvd to confluence with San Pedro Creek Construction underway USACE Bid Awarded in June 2008 Total Contract: $25.2 M County: $ 12.2 M City: $ 3.9 M USACE $ 9.1 M Visitor Tax Betterments Construction Budget: $9.9 M Completion Spring 2010 Mission Reach: Phase 1

31 Mission Reach: Phase 2A One mile section from confluence to Mission Road USACE Schedule -- Award in December 2009 Scheduled Completion March 2011 (14 mo) Est. construction cost: $41.3 M County $11.7 M Federal $30.4 M including $25.4 million in stimulus Phase Features Excavation of over 800,000 cubic yards of soil 40 acres of riparian habitat Over 2,200 native trees 2 acres of embayment 6 riffle structures 1.2 miles of hike and bike trails 1 instream pedestrian footbridge

32 EXEMPLIFY GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION 32

33 Collaborative: SARIP Project Partners Local Governmental Partners Bexar County: Donation of land for project and primary funding partners for flood control, river restoration and betterments elements of the project City of San Antonio: Donation of land for project and Funding for project recreational elements San Antonio Water System: Funding for utility relocation San Antonio River Authority (SARA): Local sponsor with USACE, project administration and management. Donation of land for project and funding of operation and maintenance Federal Governmental Partners U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): Federal funding for river restoration and some recreational components, management of design and federal project administration and construction management National Park Service: Management and operation of cultural and natural resources of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and swap of lands for completion of project Federal Aviation Administration: Coordination of the regulation of airspace of Stinson Airport within project area Department of Education: Grants for Living Classrooms

34 Collaborative: SARIP Local Project Partners Community Partners San Antonio River Oversight Committee: Active citizen advisory committee established in 1998 representing the various neighborhood and business stakeholders along the river San Antonio River Foundation: Raising $23 million in private funding for art and amenity enhancements to the project School Districts: Providing educational opportunities to engage students in environmental education programs Community organizations: Numerous Business and community organization continue to support project. Witte Museum: Educational programs at local natural history museum

35 NPS: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Today Nominated as a World Heritage Area 2 National Historic Landmarks 4 Colonial Missions Portions of the Mission s farms and ranches 26 Maintained Landscapes The oldest working Spanish Aqueduct and Dam in America Over 4,000 sqft of Historic Wood Features Over 270,000 sqft of historic masonry buildings 7 historic acequias, 13 miles of irrigation channel 1,355+ Historic Metal Features Numerous frescos

36 NPS: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Visitation Visitation to Missions has increased 673% from 216,488 visitors in 1984 to 1,674,105 visitors in 2009 (just 25 years).

37 Ecological & Cultural Connections The origins of the City of San Antonio lie in the 16 th century with the San Antonio River as an essential ingredient in the success of the Spanish settlement By 1731 six missions were established near the river, each granted royal rights to the river water to support crops, ranching, and ultimately the conversion of local natives to loyal citizens of new Spain Restoring the river will re-establish the ecological context of the historic frontier missions and reconnect to the Missions while also enhancing the relevance of other nearby Spanish Colonial resources. Mission Concepción Mission San José Mission San Juan 37 Mission Espada

38 38 San Juan River Remnant San Juan Remnant

39 39 Espada Remnant

40 Mission Portals

41 CREATE A BETTER COMMUNITY AND NATION 41

42 Improving Quality of Life Recreational & Art Features 10.6 miles of hike & bike trails 4 foot bridges 5 shade structures 73 picnic tables Overlooks and river-edge landings Paddling access points

43 Supports current administration s goals Economic Health Supports job development in historically underserved community Promotes economic development including eco-tourism, increased property values and attract business Cultural Enrichment Preserves, protects, restores and interprets the essence of Hispanic Culture and Spanish Colonial resources Social Vitality Reconnects residents to their treasured natural resource Expands opportunities for Living Classrooms for environmental education and appreciation Quality of Life Supports Livable Communities by restoring acres of native habitat within an urban corridor Promotes new urbanism and sustainable communities Transforms river into 13-mile connectivity corridor to art museums, restaurants, zoo, historical and cultural locations 43

44 San Antonio Channel Improvement Project MISSION REACH ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT December 8,