Briefing Regarding the Monitoring Efforts of the Environmental Sciences Department

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

The San Antonio River Authority's (River Authority) Environmental Sciences staff is responsible for the water quality monitoring and much of the ecological monitoring conducted by the agency. These efforts support internal activities such as restoration projects and species reintroductions, while also providing interagency support for entities such as the City of San Antonio and City Public Services. The River Authority's flagship monitoring project, the Clean Rivers Program (CRP), is administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and has led to the establishment of a robust understanding of water quality throughout the basin. One of the key activities in the CRP is the coordination of monitoring efforts across the basin with other water quality monitoring entities. The two primary opportunities for community input and coordination are the CRP Steering Committee Meeting and the Coordinated Monitoring Meeting. The CRP Steering Committee meeting is open to the public and takes place on April 10, 2026, in the River Authority Boardroom. The Coordinated Monitoring Meeting brings together local entities such as TCEQ, the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District and the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority and is being held on April 13, 2026, also in the Boardroom. This briefing will provide an overview of the River Authority's water quality monitoring program and how board members and their constituents can comment on the proposed CRP monitoring schedule. In addition to the robust water quality monitoring program, staff is also leading a myriad other water quality and ecological monitoring efforts. Of note, the Environmental Sciences Department is carrying out pre- and post-construction monitoring efforts to quantify the ecological enhancements of projects within the Mission Reach, Westside Creeks, Otilla Dam, and River Road. These efforts supplement the investments the River Authority has made and help tell the story of restoration to our constituents. Other efforts include investigating instream flow recommendations with our wastewater effluent to ensure sustainable and environmentally sound effluent flows within Martinez and Salitrillo Creek.