About the Project
The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) has embarked on an exciting new chapter for the San Antonio River Watershed system. For over half a century, the San Antonio Riverwalk has garnered international recognition as a world-class vision in urban waterfront development. As part of the next generation of sustainable visioning, SARA has focused its attention on a cluster of tributaries to the San Antonio River known as the Westside Creeks. The creeks of San Antonio’s Westside (Alazán, Apache, Martínez, and San Pedro) meander through some of San Antonio’s oldest and proudest neighborhoods.
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Project OverviewProject Overview
The Conceptual Design Phase will be conducted by a consultant team made up of multi-disciplinary resource professionals, who will be required to develop a thorough Conceptual Design Vision that will be used to guide the future Westside Creeks Restoration Projects. The consultant team led by AECOM is experienced in facilitating successful public planning efforts for conceptual design of rivers and streams in an urban environment and knowledgeable in the latest fluvial geomorphology, hydrology and hydraulics modeling and biology concepts for flood and erosion control. The team is comprised of:
- EDAW | AECOM
- RJ RIVERA Associates, Inc.
- Inter•Fluve
- Preservation Matters
The Conceptual Design Phase will include applying the latest fluvial geomorphology, hydrology and hydraulics modeling, and biology concepts to the modification and remediation of the project area (see below). This includes designing improvements for the flood control channel; providing stable banks during flooding events; insuring erosion control for the banks and pilot channel; protecting water quality during normal flow; creating and retaining habitat for fish, water fowl, and other birds and wildlife in the area; and providing an operational plan for long-term maintenance of the improved channel.
The consultant team will also facilitate enhancement and beautification of the creeks including: land use analysis; cost estimation; hiking and bicycling path development; parks and open space; landscaping; irrigation; lighting; and ADA compliance and other considerations. The consultant team will also ensure that all improvements within the riparian corridor will properly relate to the surrounding properties and land uses, including the important historical and cultural context of the area.
Project Area
Click the image to the left for an enlarged project area map, or download a PDF by clicking here.
The restoration effort is specifically targeted to portions of the four Westside Creeks which are tributaries to the San Antonio River and were previously channelized as part of the San Antonio Channel Improvements federal control project in 1954. The targeted portions include:
Alazán Creek – Approximately 3.63 miles from the confluence with Apache Creek to Tobin Drive;
Apache Creek – Approximately 3.83 miles from the confluence with San Pedro Creek to General McMullen;
Martínez Creek – Approximately 2.81 miles from the confluence with Alazán Creek to Hildebrand Avenue; and
San Pedro Creek – Approximately 3.82 miles from the confluence with the San Antonio River to W. Quincy
Project Goals
The historical and current conditions of the Westside Creeks are important in recognizing and understanding the approach to developing a sustainable restoration vision. The goals outlined for the Westside Creeks Restoration Project include:
- Environmental enhancement as linear view corridors
- Pedestrian use for all ages
- Flood control enhancement
- Aquatic and ecosystem restoration
- Low maintenance and sustainable design
- Corps of Engineers ecosystem feasibility analysis
- Fluvial geomorphology design in pilot channel
- Hike and bike trails
- Public gathering places
- Cultural/historical awareness
- Eco-tourism
- Economic development
- Neighborhood and business connections
Project Process
The Westside Creeks Restoration Project – Conceptual Design Phase is the first step in the project development process for the Westside Creeks. The outcome of this phase is to develop concepts for restoring the environmental condition of the Alazán, Apache, Martínez, and San Pedro Creeks. To do this, the consultant team will employ a multi-step process to engage the local community in a collaborative planning effort that outlines the vision, develops and tests design concepts and provides a sustainable plan for restoration of the creeks. This process will also identify implementation opportunities and strategies. Following is a brief description of each of the steps that will be undertaken during this phase of the project.
- Public Involvement – The consultant team and the San Antonio River Authority have implemented a Public Involvement Plan that focuses on two-way communication and involvement with the community throughout this phase of the project. It will be led by an oversight committee comprised of two co-chairs and community leaders representing 20 organizations and will include a project website, four subcommittees, multiple public workshops, media relations, and bilingual communications.
- Existing Conditions Analysis – The Conceptual Design Phase will begin with an analysis of existing conditions. During this step, the consultant team will meet with staff, elected officials, stakeholders, and the project committees to gather a range of concerns, data and information, and gain a deeper understanding of the project issues from the community stakeholder’s perspective. This will also include a review of existing site conditions to include bridges, adjacent structures, public amenities, and planned/proposed/on-going capital improvement projects. This will also include the first public workshop for the project.
- Vision Development and Feasibility Analysis – Input collected during the Existing Conditions Analysis will form a framework for concept alternatives for each of the creeks. This step in the process will develop “big ideas” and vision goals to be reviewed as part of a thorough feasibility analysis. This includes the development of preliminary concept alternatives, preliminary engineering analysis, preliminary environmental analysis, refined concept alternatives, and the second public workshop.
- Concept Design Development – Based on feedback obtained during the second public workshop, the consultant team will prepare a preferred concept plan for each creek. The preferred plan will reflect the best elements of the alternative scenarios as identified by the project committees and the local community.
- Sustainable Vision Restoration Plan – This step represents the culmination of the concept plan development process. During this step, the concept plan is transformed and drafted into a restoration and vision plan. In other words, the plan will be documented in a report format for future use by the San Antonio River Authority.
- Implementation Strategies – In addition to developing a plan, the consultant team will also develop the policy and implementation measures needed to support the established planning principles developed in previous steps. This step will include the development of an action plan and policy recommendations addressing initiatives that are realistic and achievable. The draft restoration plan and implementation strategies will be presented at the third and final public workshop.
This effort is similar to the process used in creating the concept design for the ongoing San Antonio River Improvements Project (SARIP). It is anticipated the Westside Creeks Restoration Project Conceptual Design Phase will be completed by February 2010. A schedule for preliminary and final design phases is currently undefined.