About SARA > Departments

SARA Departments

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General Manager

The General Manager (GM) is the chief executive officer of the San Antonio River Authority (SARA). The duties and authority of the manager are prescribed in Section 14 of Chapter 276, page 556, Acts of the 45th Legislature, as amended, and in Article II of the Bylaws of the Authority. The GM is responsible to the Board of Directors for the administration of the affairs and business SARA.

Assistant General Manager

The Assistant General Manager (AGM) shares responsibility with the GM regarding certain SARA programs, initiatives, and administrative activities. The AGM reviews and approves for presentation Board meeting minutes and agendas and is the executive sponsor for annual budget preparation and SARA fiscal performance and control. The AGM consults with Human Resources in personnel matters, coordinates managers’ meetings, and administratively supports director activities. The AGM serves as the Acting Manager in the absence of the GM.

Human Resources Division

The Human Resources Division administers the personnel programs of employee compensation and benefits, employee selection, performance management, organizational development, employee training, safety, and human resource administration and planning.

Finance and Administration Division

The Finance and Administration Division consists of three departments: Finance, Administrative Services, and Information Technology.

The Finance Department supports all SARA departments and divisions through payroll processing and providing a full range of accounting services. The Department is also responsible for tracking and recording the General Fixed Assets of SARA.

Administrative Services Department supports SARA in four areas: Purchasing, including policies, procedures, Small, Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (SMWBE) and contracting requirements; Facility Maintenance; Fleet Maintenance; and Administration.

The Information Technology (IT) Department is responsible for SARA’s technical operations, the telephone systems, and all computer-related hardware and software.

Watershed Management Division

The Watershed Management Division consists of three departments: The Environmental Services Department (ESD), the Flood Control Infrastructure Department (FCI), and the Floodplain Management Department (FM).

ESD provides research, data gathering, and scientific assessment functions for SARA regarding water quality planning, pollution prevention, resource protection, ecosystem restoration and public health issues. ESD provides services through three sections: Water Quality Monitoring, Laboratory Operations, and Water Quality Assessments and Planning. ESD strives to be a full service resource.

FCI has operation and maintenance responsibilities for floodwater-retarding structures located in Bexar County, Karnes County, and the City of Kenedy. To prevent erosion of these earthen structures, SARA maintains the structures’ vegetative cover through fertilization, weed and brush control and hay harvesting. FCI also maintains the lower sections of the San Antonio River Channel Improvement Project, operates dam and pump facilities, and locates and removes flood debris from selected critical areas along regional waterways.

FM is charged with developing and maintaining SARA’s regional flood modeling program within the entire San Antonio River Basin. The department works with cities and counties in our jurisdiction to assist them in flood planning, floodplain administration, selection and prioritization of capital projects, and development of regional models and modeling standards. As part of the Interlocal Agreement in Bexar County, the Floodplain Management Department works with staff from the City of San Antonio and Bexar County to implement the Bexar Regional Watershed Management Plan. The department’s mission is to provide quality engineering and floodplain planning services in conjunction with SARA’s partners to maximize efficiency, reduce duplication, and to make decisions on a holistic watershed basis.

Operations Division

The Operations Division consists of three departments: Engineering Services, Utilities Services, and Park Services.

The Engineering Services Department provides technical support and project management for capital improvement projects and programs. The Engineering department provides staff and resources for the design, drafting, surveying, construction administration, inspection, testing and technical reviews necessary for the construction of flood control, river restoration, wastewater treatment, water supply, parks and recreation, and other related projects. The department’s mission is to provide quality professional engineering services to implement and complete capital improvement projects and programs in a timely and cost effective manner.

The Utility Services Department is the water and wastewater service provider for SARA. Wholesale wastewater service is provided through the Salatrillo Wastewater system to the cities of Converse, Live Oak, and Universal City. The Utilities Department provides retail wastewater services to parts of the City of San Antonio and Bexar County through the Martinez wastewater systems, and provides operation and maintenance contract services to customers in our four-county service area. The Utilities Department also has contract utility services with the City of LaVernia and the Goliad Water Supply Corporation.

The Park Services Department operates and maintains Braunig Lake Park and Calaveras Lake Park through a lease contract with City Public Service Energy, who owns the properties. Parks functions at Braunig Lake Park and Calaveras Lake Park include visitor admittance, facility reservations, concessions, the sale of sporting goods and equipment, and the maintenance of numerous park buildings, facilities, equipment, and grounds within Braunig Lake Park and Calaveras Lake Park. The department also operates and maintains Jackson Nature Park through an Interlocal Agreement with Wilson County .  Park functions include pedestrian trails and nature study. The Department also partners with communities throughout the San Antonio River Basin to plan, design, and implement parks and outdoor recreational projects.

Planning & Development Division

The mission of the Planning & Development Division (P&D) is to develop new opportunities for SARA to better serve its citizens and communities. P&D provides support services to SARA and its individual operations through three departments: Planning & Development, Water Resources, and Real Estate. Planning & Development seeks and develops opportunities to assist communities in the region. Water Resources is responsible for SARA’s activities in water resource planning, water supply development, and stewardship of the quantity of water in the San Antonio River and its tributaries. Real Estate provides asset management and real estate acquisition and disposition services for the SARA.

Intergovernmental and Community Relations Division

Intergovernmental and Community Relations Division (IG/CR) provides support services to SARA and its individual operations. The mission of IG/CR is to effectively communicate, market, and promote SARA’s identity, services, and projects and to solicit the support of communities, governments, and legislators in the pursuit of SARA’s mission. IG/CR staff facilitate SARA’s legislative and congressional agendas, media relations, educational and community events including the BasinQuest middleschool education program, and is in the process of developing SARA’s speakers bureau.