DALLAS, TEXAS, Jan. 21, 2015 -- As part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), City of San Antonio, and San Antonio River Authority (SARA) are all celebrating the start of the San Antonio River Basin Project, a program underway to restore waterways and improve water quality throughout the region.
The UWFP is made up of 13 federal agencies working to reconnect urban communities with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies and collaborating with community-led revitalization efforts. Launched in 2011, it provides grants, resources and expertise to local governments looking to restore urban rivers and jumpstart local economies, particularly in underserved communities. (see: "Urban waterway restoration the focus of new federal partnership").
"Restoration of the San Antonio River Basin and its waterways allows city area residents to enjoy the environmental and recreational benefits from their local waters and surrounding lands," said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. "We look forward to working with our partners to transform degraded waterways into assets and to improve water quality for many years to come."
The City of San Antonio and SARA are the local co-applicants of the UWFP. Other local partners, including Bexar County, National Park Service (NPS), San Antonio Housing Association (SAHA), and San Antonio Water System (SAWS), are working together with the City and SARA to nominate projects that look to reconnect people with urban waters by enhancing recreational opportunities, improving water quality, expanding community water resources, and restoring and revitalizing urban creeks.
San Antonio residents are encouraged to attend and discuss the identified projects with the project experts in the San Antonio/Bexar County area and provide input on the projects. Participants will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing federal agency and partner work in the area. Local project partners will also be available to discuss specifics of the projects.
See also:
"SAWS, Abengoa officials celebrate launch of major new water project for San Antonio"
"Texas launches new state-of-the-art water technology accelerator"
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