San Antonio River Authority Water Quality

The Environmental Services Division regularly works on small or short term water quality, pollution investigations or scientific studies (less than 5 years). When studies are completed, a report may be created, published or put on the SARA web site. Often these projects are funded by tax dollars or grants, but they may also be funded through private sources.

CURRENT PROJECTS and STUDIES

SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT

River Walk Watershed Anti-bacterial Challenge (River Walk Watershed ABC’s)

The Upper San Antonio River is listed on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s 303(d) list of impaired water quality due to bacteria.

This project will take a social marketing approach, where stakeholders (anyone who lives, works, or plays in the watershed):

If you would like more information, or be placed on the stakeholder’s list, please contact: Brian Mast at (210) 302-3287 or click here.

San Antonio River Basin Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Survey:

In August 2003 the Texas Department of Health (TDH) issued a fish consumption advisory for a reach of the lower Leon Creek (Segment 1906) bounded by Texas State Highway 90 (upstream) and S.W. Military Drive (downstream). This advisory was established after samples from several fish species collected in 2002 were found to have elevated levels of PCBs in the edible portion of fish tissue. Previous tissue analyses (whole fish) had detected the presence of PCBs in several species of fish in this reach.

There has been very little fish-tissue, sediment, and water quality sampling for PCB’s in the San Antonio River Basin. However, due to the findings by the TDH on Leon Creek, a follow up survey of PCBs in the aquatic environment is desirable. The survey would provide current information as to the extent of PCB contamination in Leon Creek. The survey would sample fish-tissue and sediments in Leon Creek and analyze for concentrations of PCB. As SARA’s contribution to the PCB Study, SARA has contracted with the US Geological Survey to conduct a sediment characterization survey. This study is to determine the occurrence and distribution of selected inorganic and organic hydrophobic (sediment bound) constituents in the watersheds in the San Antonio area. The River Authority’s share of the cost will be $111,500.

Instream Flows Planning Project

The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) staff has expressed to the State Agencies preference to be engaged in the lower San Antonio River stream flow study as an active partner. The Environmental Services Department (ESD) Instream Flows Planning Project provides a budget for engaging a consultant to conduct instream flows study according to the States methodology, and to make instream flow recommendation to River Authority Staff. Project activities will also include planning, document and data review/comment, correspondence, attendance at meetings and keeping River Authority management and the Board of Directors informed.

Salatrillo & Martinez Creeks Instream Flow Study:

In an effort to assist River Authority Water Resources and Utilities departments with their long range planning and water management efforts, the River Authority ESD will conduct an instream flow study for the Salatrillo and Martinez Creeks sub-watershed. An instream flow study is needed in order to properly plan water management strategies that support both human and Environmental water needs.

San Antonio River Basin Wastewater Effluent Management:

This project will provide the hydrologic engineering necessary to complete a more detailed instream flow evaluation in support of the San Antonio River Basin Wastewater Effluent Management effort. An initial determination of the water resources necessary in the San Antonio River to maintain viability, to include the water rights of landowners, will be completed.

Recalibration of Fish Community Metrics:

In response to the current statewide interest in using fish community composition as a tool to determine instream flows, ESD Biologists will re-evaluate the River Authority fish community data and conduct a statistical analysis in order to update, recalibrate and verify the San Antonio basin fish community metrics. This project provides funding for the River Authority ESD staff to research and analyze the fish community data base to develop up to date, applicable and accurate metrics. Project activities will include documentation and data review, data analysis, interagency coordination, correspondence, report preparation, attendance at meetings, and keeping the River Authority management and the Board of Directors informed.

San Antonio River Basin Nutrient Loading:

There has been only limited research relating specific levels of nutrient loadings to desired use, water quality or aquatic ecosystem impacts. However, there are methods available that can analyze ambient water quality data and point source discharge information to provide opportunities for developing nutrient criteria. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has developed a plan to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements to adopt numeric nutrient water quality standards. The River Authority ESD shall conduct a data collection effort to provide information that will contribute nitrogen and phosphorous Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) discharge information to the analysis and development of nutrient criteria.

The objective of this data collection effort is to generate a data base of nutrient concentrations discharged from selected Wastewater Treatment Plants within the San Antonio River Basin. The data will be compiled into a data base that will compliment the existing River Authority water quality data base and support a continuous simulation water quality modeling analysis. Wastewater Treatment Plant discharge sampling, laboratory analysis, data management, and quality assurance/quality control activities will be conducted. The data will be made available to EPA, TCEQ, United States Geological Survey, or other agencies, and public stakeholders that may be involved with nutrient criteria development.

San Antonio River Walk Education:

Through collaborative workshops, Project partners (City of San Antonio, Bexar County, San Antonio Water Systems, and the River Authority) will collaborate with the Paseo Del Rio Association, Downtown Alliance/Centro San Antonio, Hotel Motel Association, and the Tourism Council to identify problem behaviors, recommend solutions, and develop Best Management Practices (BMPs) including a public education campaign to reduce bacteria levels and to enhance water quality in the San Antonio River Walk. Through increased water quality monitoring and BMPs, Project Partners will abate or reduce excess nutrients and organic loadings and non-point source pollution of bacteria by 50%. The goals are to partner with and educate river walk merchants on nutrient and organic loading and enlist their support to educate river walk patrons and tourists, thereby reducing bacteria levels to be compliant with the State Water Quality Stream standards.

San Antonio/Salado Basin Implementation:

Specified reaches of the Upper San Antonio (segment 1911) and Salado Creek (segment 1910) have been identified on the TCEQ 303 (d) list as not meeting state stream standards due to elevated levels of coliform bacteria. The TCEQ Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) effort has determined the bacterial load reductions that will be required in order to meet compliance with state surface water quality standards. The Environmental Protection Agency requires that an Implementation Plan (IP) be developed to address the water quality impairments identified in the TMDL. The TCEQ has partnered with the San Antonio River Authority to develop an IP for the Upper San Antonio River and Salado Creek watersheds. The IP will identify best management practices to abate or control non-point sources of bacteria and develop a timeline for implementation. The IP development project will include information, input and planning from the Bexar Regional Watershed Management (BRWM) program partners, area stakeholders and the public.

This project will produce a document that will serve as a guide towards abatement control of non-point source pollution of coliform bacteria in the Upper San Antonio River and Salado Creek watersheds. Data, plans, information, and input from the BRWM partners, stakeholders and the public will form the basis for the IP. The IP will compliment the TCEQ TMDL effort by establishing the framework needed for implementation through public outreach, awareness, and input efforts, as well as collaboration with partners and stakeholders. The project will set short and long term goals for pollutant reduction in the watershed.

STORM EVENT DISCHARGE MONITORING FOR TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The primary object of this project is for the SARA Environmental Services Division to perform representative monitoring and reporting of storm event discharges. These measures will assist in characterizing the quality of storm water discharges from the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. Monitoring will be performed on Ingram Road at Leon Creek Tributary during representative storm event discharges. Monitoring frequency: (1/season). Seasonal monitoring periods: December - March (dry); April - June (wet); July - August (dry); September - November (wet). The following parameters will be analyzed: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Oil and Grease, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Total Nitrate, Total Ammonia, Total Phosphorus, Dissolved Phosphorus, Total Cadmium, Total Chromium, Total Copper, Total Cyanide, Total Lead, Total Nickel, Total Zinc, Fecal Coliform, Enterococci, pH, Hardness, Temperature, and Diazinon.

The anticipated total project cost is $27,360.00 per year. This entire project is being funded by the Texas Department of Transportation.

WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN

The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) is working in conjunction with the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and other partners to develop a basin wide Watershed Protection Plan (WPP). A WPP would serve as a guide to address non-point source pollution. The overall water quality goal of the implemented WPP is to reduce bacteria levels so that the uppermost reach of the Upper San Antonio River is compliant with the State Water Quality Stream Standards. Phase I of the WPP will compliment the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) activities by establishing the framework needed for implementation through public outreach, awareness, and input efforts, as well as collaboration with partners and stakeholders.

COMPLETED REPORTS and STUDIES

BACTERIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE LOWER SAN ANTONIO RIVER

Citizens in the lower portion of the San Antonio River Watershed have expressed concerns about bacteria levels in the San Antonio River and asked that the San Antonio River Authority address their concerns. Many felt that the City of San Antonio was the principle source of the bacterial concerns on the lower San Antonio River (Segment 1901). However, since water quality data showed that the stream standard for contact recreation was generally being met at sites on the San Antonio River from I-37 in Bexar County to FM 791 in Karnes County , it was likely that the concerns identified in the lower portion of the River had other sources. Therefore, this study was designed to concentrate its limited resources on Segment 1901.

Segment 1901 encompasses the area from the confluence with the Guadalupe River in Refugio and Victoria Counties to a point approximately 600 meters downstream of the FM 791 bridge near Falls City , Texas in Karnes County . Limited fecal coliform bacteria data has identified several areas where the State stream standard for contact recreation has occasionally not been met in this segment, and the segment has been placed on the Texas 2002 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of impaired water bodies.

This study was designed to collect and analyze surface water samples from the lower San Antonio River in order to identify reaches that may, or may not, be meeting the State stream standard for contact recreation, and attempt to identify the source(s) of bacterial contamination.

INVENTORY OF FISHES AT SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (SAAN)

Under contract to the National Park Service, biologists of the San Antonio River Authority Environmental Services Department conducted a series of fish collections at representative sites along watercourses in or adjacent to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park properties in Bexar and Wilson counties, Texas . Fishes were collected from October 2003 to September 2004 at five sites along the San Antonio River and at three tributary sites utilizing electro-fishing and seining techniques. Fish community composition, habitat and water quality were evaluated. The survey collected 27 species totaling 4912 individuals. Non-native species collected during this survey made up 37% of all species collected and 36% of all individuals collected. The survey was able to document 69% of the fishes previously collected from the Upper San Antonio River and collected four species (Notropis Buchanani, Notropis texanus, Notropis amabilis, Tilapia zilli) not previously listed by the San Antonio River Authority. No darter species or species of management concerns were collected. The San Antonio River Authority developed an inventory of fishes collected from streams within or adjacent to San Antonio Missions National Historical Park properties as a project deliverable to the National Park Service.

Projects and Studies