The Science of Flood Management

Managing Our Flood Risk

Proper watershed management is the first step to lessening disastrous flooding.

Exactly what is a watershed?

It is all the land area that drains water into a common place, usually a river, stream or lake.  Weather events happening miles and miles away from these bodies of water can dramatically affect their levels, flow and intensity and cause severe flooding.   

Implementing appropriate management practices is important to sustaining and enriching life in the San Antonio River Watershed and control the devastating effects of flooding. The goal of the River Authority is to reach a sensible balance between physical, chemical, biological and economic factors while still maintaining the integrity of the watersheds throughout the San Antonio River Basin.

Because these factors are always evolving, an effective watershed management plan involves a never-ending cycle of planning, assessing, and implementing.

Here’s a closeup look at a Watershed Management Cycle:

Aerial view of flood waters held back by levee
Watershed Management Cycle

Collect water at specific locations and test to gather specific data.

Compare current water quality to state and federal standard or establish desired future conditions.

Develop goals and strategies to maintain or achieve water quality standards and meet future demands.

Implement goals and strategies through public policy, best management practives (BMPs) and education.

Determine the specific watershed and issues to be studied. Identity the stakeholders and resource personnel.

The River Authority constantly measures results to make sure the watershed management plan is performing at its highest level and adjust the program where needed.

Data Driven. Scientist Approved.

Another invaluable tool for flood control is a Watershed Master Plan.

It helps educate everyone about changes in land use, potential new building projects and modifications to regulations governing development within the basin. It’s particularly important as an information tool for decision makers whose actions and policies can affect the health of a watershed.

As the regional technical planning lead in watershed management, the San Antonio River Authority has made significant investments in collecting and maintaining watershed data and developing complex analytical tools and models to make scientifically sound watershed management recommendations.

City planners working with flood map

What's in Your Watershed?

The Watershed Master Plan Viewer displays information from the various Watershed Master Plan reports, as well as other useful reference data. This tool assists the stakeholders, decision-makers, and the public visualize and understand the challenges and potential solutions to watershed management. Explore your watershed using our Watershed Master Plan Viewer:

Alerts

Maintenance Notice – Museum Reach Trail

Maintenance will be occurring on Wednesday, December 4th, 7am-6pm on F.I.S.H. The trails will remain open, please proceed with caution when crossing beneath IH35. We appreciate your cooperation and ask that you remain mindful of workers and closures when in the vicinity. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve our public spaces!

Stem Density Efforts

**Update: Trails are open all this week. Thank you for your patience and stay safe! Please be advised that trails near the Confluence Park and Conception Park area will be temporarily closed due to ongoing Stem Density efforts. We appreciate your cooperation and ask that you remain mindful of workers and closures when in the vicinity. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve our natural spaces!  

SASPAMCO Paddling Trail Temporarily Closed

Staff have removed two large log jams just downstream of Helton Nature Park, keeping the southern portion of the SASPAMCO Paddling Trail temporarily closed. Staff are working to contact adjacent landowners to support a land-based removal solution.

San Pedro Creek Culture Park

The restrooms at South Alamo will be temporarily closed for maintenance and repairs. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. 

Acequia Trail Notice

The Acequia trail will have heavy traffic near MROC starting May 22nd until further notice. The SAWS Acequia project will be bringing in crews to work on the lift station site and across the street. There will have flaggers to stop traffic, please use caution. 

SASPAMCO Paddling Trail

The SASPAMCO paddling trail is open from River Crossing Park to Helton Nature Park. *Please Note: Paddling Trail from Helton Nature Park to HWY 97 is still closed due to blockages. 

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