This series provides readers with the opportunity to learn about the unique insights and experiences of the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) Board of Directors and their personal connection to the San Antonio River in hopes of inspiring stewardship of area creeks and rivers.
How have you been interacting with the river lately?
I always try to keep up. I like to stay closely connected to our river, creeks, and greenway projects across our watershed. I like to stay informed of design updates, community input, and progress toward making the river and adjacent waterways accessible and safe for all. I regularly attend project community meetings, local stakeholder meetings, and community outreach events to ensure I remain grounded in what matters most to our neighbors.
Right now, there’s a lot of exciting growth underway: from the ongoing Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration project, our new flood-warning infrastructure under the NextGen Flood Warning System, to our work on expanding swimmable-water opportunities. Having several of these projects located within my district gives me a front-row seat to see firsthand how they’ll benefit the community.
What River Authority project are you looking forward to in the new year?
Without a doubt, I’m most eager about the NextGen Flood Warning System, our flood warning system upgrade in partnership with Bexar County and the City of San Antonio. This isn’t just a technical improvement, but a transformative step toward public safety and resilience. NextGen’s purpose is to upgrade our local flood infrastructure through improving our gauges using predictive modeling, adding new physical barriers and lighting at low water crossings. This project is intended to better prepare and warn residents ahead of flash flood threats and to protect lives and property across our region.
Combined with our broader flood-mitigation and watershed-management work, NextGen represents a commitment to using smart, science-based solutions to safeguard the river basin and the people who live here.
What impact does the River Authority have on the community?
When I first joined the Board, I sensed that many in the community knew little about the River Authority. Who we are, what we do, or how our work touches their daily lives. Today, in my view, that has changed dramatically. Through initiatives like the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration project, the Bexar County Creeks and Trails expansion, flood-protection efforts, and numerous recreational projects, the River Authority now has a visible, positive presence in neighborhoods across the watershed.
What pleases me most is the growing number of residents reaching out with supportive feedback. People tell me they appreciate improved green spaces, safer trails, cleaner waterways and in some cases, a real sense of pride in having their community connected to nature again. That kind of response shows that we’re not just managing the San Antonio River – we’re rebuilding relationships between the river and its people, between neighborhoods and nature systems.
The River Authority is part of this community, working every day to ensure our rivers and creeks are not only safe from floods but also beautiful, and accessible to our entire community.
About Jerry Gonzales, Bexar County Board Member
Jerry Gonzales was born and raised on the Southside of San Antonio. He raised a family in the same community in which he is highly involved in preserving and renewing. This passion fueled him to join the River Authority board in 2013, where he currently serves as the Board Secretary. Jerry is an enthusiastic supporter of the Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration Project.
