14. • INDIVIDUAL AGENDA ITEMSSan Antonio River Authority (Bexar County)

Federal Legislative Update

Presented in: San Antonio River Authority - Special Meeting of the Board of Directors on 2026-01-12

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

There are several issues that the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) will discuss with federal agencies and the elected delegation in early 2026. Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration Project, Karnes County Dam rehabilitations, and Otilla Dam modifications are ongoing projects where the River Authority is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW). Staff have been communicating with USACE regarding the local control and project management of the Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration construction. The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 paved the way for the USACE to create a national pilot program to verify whether nonfederal sponsors can implement USACE construction contracts more cost effectively and efficiently. The River Authority has been working with USACE Fort Worth District and Headquarters to submit an application for entrance into the nonfederal sponsor construction lead (1043 (b)) pilot program. The River Authority submitted the application earlier and USACE now has 90 days to respond to the River Authority application. The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 is under development presently and the River Authority is working with the delegation to include an amendment clarifying the federal cost-share for the full restoration of Martinez Creek on the Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration Project. The Karnes County Dam rehabilitations have completed the planning process and are entering the design phase. The planning process was 100% federally funded and the design is to be as well. The River Authority will continue to work with NRCS to advance the rehabilitation of the dams. The USFW grant for the rehabilitation of Otilla Dam is active after being temporarily paused. The River Authority will continue to work with USFW to fully utilize the grant in the modification of the dam to allow for recreational and aquatic life passage.