Meghan Hodges
The San Antonio River is a 240-mile-long waterway that runs through the city of San Antonio, Texas, and has been a significant part of the region's history and community development. While the river has been an integral feature of the landscape, the surrounding urbanization has also damaged its ecosystem. The San Antonio River Authority has been working to improve water quality and address pollution issues since the 1960s, with notable projects in the 1970s and 1990s. Despite these efforts, San Antonio continues to face challenges with air pollution, particularly from fracking and industrial facilities, which contribute to poor ozone levels and fine particulate matter pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| San Antonio's air quality | AQI of "good" in 2019, with monthly averages ranging from 25 ("good") in October to 54 ("moderate") in May. |
| Spring and summer air quality | More polluted than fall and winter, with May, July, and June being the most polluted months. |
| Unhealthy pollution days | 49 days in 2018 due to high PM2.5 or ozone levels exceeding federal thresholds. |
| Ozone pollution | Rated an "F" in 2019 by the American Lung Association, with San Antonio ranking 38th for high ozone nationally out of 229 metropolitan areas. |
| Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) | 17.5% increase in pollution levels from 2018 to 2019. |
| Causes of increased pollution | Fracking at the Eagle Ford shale facility and illegal air pollution from nearby industrial facilities. |
| Texas industrial facilities | Released 135 million pounds of illegal air pollution in 2018, more than double the previous year. |
| Texas's business-first approach | Presents a challenge to tackling air pollution, with penalties for illegal emissions in 2018 amounting to only $2 million, much lower than possible charges under existing law. |
| River ecosystem restoration | Accomplished by rebuilding natural river features, planting native grasses and trees, and restoring habitats for animal species. |
| Water quality programs | Expanded throughout the 2000s, including biological surveys, wastewater monitoring, fish population inventory, and watershed protection plans. |
| River Authority's water quality activities | Increased significantly due to federal actions, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). |
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What You'll Learn
The San Antonio River Authority's increased water quality activities
The River Authority's activities expanded significantly due to key federal actions, including the National Environmental Policy Act (1970) and amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) in 1972. These legislative changes prompted the River Authority to take legal action against polluters in the basin during the early 1970s, demonstrating their commitment to improving water quality. They also became signatories to the Texas Water Pollution Control Compact and adopted the Alamo Area Council of Governments' (AACOG) Interim Regional Wastewater Development Plan for the upper basin in 1971.
The San Antonio River Authority has implemented various projects to enhance water quality and protect the river ecosystem. One such project is the biological survey of the river to assess the potential impact of groundwater contamination from military activities in the area. They also conducted wastewater monitoring and laboratory analyses to understand the effects of restaurant waste. Additionally, they developed a baseline fish population inventory near the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
The River Authority has also focused on restoring the natural ecosystem along the river. This involved rebuilding natural river features and planting native grasses, trees, and other plant life. The deep roots of these native plants help prevent erosion and stabilize the banks, while also filtering stormwater and reducing pollution.
Furthermore, the River Authority has worked on a watershed protection plan to address specific water quality issues and implement measures to manage pollutants and nonpoint source pollution. They have also conducted a River Loop water quality and flow study to assess and improve water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria levels.
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San Antonio's worsening air quality
San Antonio's air quality has worsened in recent years, despite long-term improvements since the Clean Air Act of 1970. The city experienced a 17.5% increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution from 2018 to 2019. This increase in pollution may be attributed to several factors, including fracking at the Eagle Ford shale facility, located just outside the city, and a drastic increase in illegal air pollution from nearby industrial facilities.
Texas's business-first approach has been a significant challenge in tackling air pollution levels in the state and specifically in San Antonio. The penalties for illegal emissions from Texas facilities amounted to only $2 million in 2018, or roughly one cent per pound of illegal air pollution. This is a mere fraction of the potential fines of $297 million that could have been charged under existing law.
Ozone, a ground-level gas molecule often described as 'smog', has been a particularly difficult pollutant to control and regulate. Warmer urban environments provide ideal conditions for ozone formation. The establishment of Eagle Ford shale, one of the nation's largest oil and gas developments, has significantly increased ozone levels in San Antonio. During the months with the highest ozone levels, oil and gas development accounted for half of all ozone-forming precursor pollutants in the atmosphere.
In 2019, San Antonio received an "F" rating for ozone pollution from the American Lung Association, ranking 38th for high ozone levels nationally out of 229 metropolitan areas. The city's annual air quality averages a "good" US Air Quality Index (AQI) rating. However, there can be daily fluctuations, with San Antonio experiencing 49 days of unhealthy air pollution in 2018. These unhealthy days are primarily due to high ozone or PM2.5 levels exceeding federal thresholds.
To address water pollution, the San Antonio River Authority has implemented various projects since the 1990s. These include biological surveys, wastewater monitoring, fish population inventories, and watershed protection plans. The River Authority has also worked to protect the Edwards Aquifer and successfully litigated against polluters in the basin. Additionally, ecosystem restoration efforts have been made by rebuilding natural river features and planting native grasses and trees, which help stabilise banks and filter stormwater pollutants.
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The San Antonio River Basin Pollution Prevention Study
The San Antonio River Authority has implemented various projects to improve water quality and mitigate pollution in the river basin. One such initiative was the installation of a Litter Trap with a Trash Boom collection system along the Alazan Creek to reduce pollution in the river. From 2013 to 2016, this system helped collect 243,307 pounds of trash along the river. In addition to trash collection, SARA has also focused on ecosystem restoration. By planting native grasses, trees, and plant life near the river’s edge, SARA has not only provided habitat and food for animal species but also utilized the roots of these plants to prevent erosion and filter stormwater pollutants.
The River Authority has also conducted biological surveys of the river to assess the risk of ecosystem stress from groundwater contamination, potentially linked to military activities in the area. They have further expanded their water quality activities to protect the Edwards Aquifer and successfully litigated against polluters in the basin, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining water quality.
To foster collaboration and community engagement, SARA has sponsored and participated in events like the World Heritage Symposium and the Texas Stormwater Scorecard. They have also created the San Antonio River Basin Report Card to evaluate and address pollution control programs. SARA continues to work towards improving the environment, reducing costs, and enhancing the quality of life for the communities within the San Antonio River Basin.
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The River Authority's water quality programs in the 1990s
The San Antonio River Authority's (SA River Authority) water quality programs in the 1990s built on significant federal actions in the 1970s, including the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). These legislative developments in the previous decade had already led the River Authority to expand its water quality activities, focusing not only on protecting surface water but also the Edwards Aquifer.
In the 1990s, the SA River Authority continued to develop and expand its water quality programs. One key initiative was the biological survey of the San Antonio River. This involved assessing the risk of ecosystem stress resulting from groundwater contamination, which may have been related to military activities in the area. The River Authority also initiated a wastewater monitoring and laboratory analysis project, specifically examining the impact of restaurant waste.
Additionally, the SA River Authority conducted a baseline fish population inventory near the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. This was likely related to understanding the health of the aquatic ecosystem and the potential impact of water quality on fish populations. The River Authority also led a watershed protection plan, aiming to identify targeted water quality issues, specific pollutants, and nonpoint source pollution management measures, with a schedule for implementation.
Furthermore, the SA River Authority played a crucial role in the River Loop water quality and flow study. At a basin level, the authority took on the responsibility of conducting a total maximum daily load assessment project. This project addressed issues related to dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria, which can pose significant challenges to water quality and ecological health.
While the specific details of the 1990s water quality programs are not extensively outlined, it is clear that the SA River Authority continued to build on its previous efforts and maintained a commitment to enhancing and protecting the water quality of the San Antonio River and its surrounding ecosystem.
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Ecosystem restoration and pollution filtration
The San Antonio River Authority has been working to improve water quality since the 1960s, when the San Antonio Creek Watershed Project was first expanded. The River Authority has since completed numerous projects aimed at ecosystem restoration and pollution filtration.
One of the most significant projects is the San Antonio River Improvements Project, an ambitious $384 million plan that includes flood mitigation, ecosystem restoration, and cultural, recreational, and artistic amenities along 13 miles of the river. The Mission Reach, a component of this project, took 20 years to complete and involved restoring a nine-mile stretch of the river immediately downstream of downtown San Antonio to its natural state. This included removing trees and restoring native grassland prairie habitats to ensure the proper conveyance of floodwaters and support avian migration and other wildlife. The Mission Reach is one of the nation's largest urban ecosystem restoration projects and has significantly improved the ecosystem services of the area, enhancing the quality of life for residents.
The River Authority has also implemented various water quality programs and activities, such as biological surveys, wastewater monitoring, and watershed protection plans, to address issues like groundwater contamination and nonpoint source pollution. They have successfully litigated against polluters in the basin and adopted regional wastewater development plans to demonstrate their commitment to water quality.
To address bacterial pollution, which is a significant issue in the San Antonio River basin, the River Authority is promoting the use of low-impact development techniques such as bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavement to filter bacteria and other pollutants from stormwater. These techniques aim to reduce the amount of bacteria-laden runoff that enters the river during rainstorms, which is a major contributor to the high levels of E. coli and other bacteria in the water.
The San Antonio River serves as a vital habitat corridor and a thoroughfare for migratory birds and butterflies. By restoring native plant communities and connecting them along this riparian corridor, the River Authority has created an essential home for a diverse range of wildlife. The Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation project, for example, aimed to restore ecological functions and values to a section of the river that had been converted for flood control, providing food, water, shelter, and space for numerous residential and migratory wildlife species.
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Frequently asked questions
The San Antonio River Authority is a body that manages the San Antonio River and its creeks, which have been at the core of communities in the region throughout history. In the 1960s, the SARA focused on the SACIP, an infrastructure project that included the construction of fifteen dams and two wastewater treatment facilities. In the 1970s, the SARA expanded its water quality activities, litigating against polluters in the basin and becoming a signatory to the Texas Water Pollution Control Compact.
The San Antonio River and the creeks that feed into it are surrounded by an urbanized landscape, which has damaged the local waterways' ecosystems. In recent years, San Antonio's air quality has worsened, with a 17.5% increase in fine particulate matter pollution from 2018 to 2019. This increase may be attributed to fracking at the Eagle Ford shale facility and illegal air pollution from nearby industrial facilities.
The San Antonio community is investing in maintaining connections to its waterways and restoring damaged ecosystems. This includes ecosystem restoration by rebuilding natural river features and planting native grasses, trees, and plant life near the river’s edge. These native plants provide habitat and food for many animal species, and their long roots help prevent erosion and act as a filter for stormwater, catching trash and filtering out pollutants.
