Clean Rivers Program

In 1991, the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Clean Rivers Act [Senate Bill 818]. The Act was intended to move Texas towards comprehensive water resources planning and management to ensure the integrity of the state’s water supply over the long term. The Clean Rivers Act requires an ongoing assessment of water quality issues and management strategies statewide. The Act established the Texas Clean Rivers Program (CRP) under the Texas Water Commission (now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or TCEQ). The program is funded by fees assessed on wastewater discharge permittees and water rights holders as well as through TCEQ’s own state appropriations.

For more information on the Clean Rivers Program please visit the TCEQ CRP website. This website has information about the statewide program and links to Clean Rivers Program partner websites.

Rio Grande River in spring

                     

San Antonio River Basin Clean Rivers Program Goals

  • Provide quality-assured data
  • Identify and evaluate water quality issues
  • Promote cooperative watershed planning
  • Recommend management strategies
  • Inform and engage stakeholders
  • Maintain efficient use of public funds

                     

Coordinated Monitoring Schedule

The objective of the Coordinated Monitoring Schedule is to provide a process by which Planning Agencies will coordinate their monitoring activities with the TCEQ and other qualified monitoring organizations within the basin. The coordinated monitoring schedules are developed each spring in order to implement the new schedules for the coming fiscal year.

Further information may be found at the Lower Colorado River Authority’s Lower Colorado River Authority’s website. Please note that the Coordinated Monitoring Schedule includes stations monitored by other entities.

                     

Quality Assurance Project Plan

The Clean Rivers Program requires a Quality Assurance Project Plan in order to provide the level of consistency and scientific validity of data needed for decision-making across the state. Quality Assurance Project Plans are crucial for documenting how the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) plans, implements, and assesses the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) activities related to water quality monitoring.

                     

CRP Partners

As part of the Texas CRP, the San Antonio River Authority partners with the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District to monitor the entire San Antonio River Basin

The Texas Stream Team is a volunteer monitoring program that conducts monitoring throughout Texas using volunteer citizen scientists.

                     

Steering Committee Meeting Information

Information about the River Authority’s Clean Rivers Program (CRP) Steering Committee, including agendas and presentations, can be found by following the link for the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC). If you would like to contact a member or would like more information about the committee, please click contact us.

                     

Water Quality Data

The San Antonio River Authority’s Environmental Sciences Department, along with its partners, conduct water quality monitoring, biological community and habitat assessments throughout the San Antonio River Watershed. This data is submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and is used to assess whether streams are meeting their designated use(s). The River Authority Regional Environmental Laboratory, a TCEQ Accredited Laboratory, conducts analysis of the surface water samples. Biological and habitat assessments are completed by the Watershed Monitoring Aquatic Biologists. The data can be viewed and downloaded through a Geographic Information System (GIS) application.

                     

                     

Basin Summary Reports

The San Antonio River Basin Summary Report provides an overview of monitoring and assessment activities in the San Antonio River Basin and is published every five years. These reports are prepared by San Antonio River Authority staff in coordination with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and in accordance with the state’s guidelines. Each report discusses land use and special projects throughout the basin as well as trends in data across a 10-year history of the levels of bacteria, nutrients, aquatic life use and other water quality parameters at more than 180 sites throughout six watersheds in the basin, covering various periods.

Basin Highlight Reports

The Basin Highlights Report provides annual updates of the findings and activities conducted by San Antonio River Authority for the San Antonio River Basin in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and other partners under the State of Texas Clean Rivers Program (CRP). This report includes an overview of basin water quality monitoring activities, a review of water quality data, a discussion of activities and findings for special studies, maps showing the location of sampling sites, a discussion of participation of other organizations in the basin monitoring program, and public outreach activities.

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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