SAN ANTONIO, TX – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) joined the San Antonio River Authority in announcing that the Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration Project (Westside Creeks) received $75 million, the full federal share of the project funding, through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Work Plan (Work Plan). These funds will be used for the federal share of the remaining design and the subsequent construction of the project.
“The Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration Project has been a long-awaited project for the city of San Antonio, with far reaching community and environmental benefits for the historic West side,” said Congressman Gonzales. “For many folks in the area, this project revives the area’s storied past and deep roots. A significant investment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will fast-track the final installments of the much-anticipated restoration.”
“The River Authority has been working diligently since 2008 with our partners at Bexar County, City of San Antonio, Bexar County federal delegation, Corps of Engineers, and citizens who serve on the Westside Creeks Restoration Oversight Committee,” said Jim Campbell, Chair of the River Authority Board of Directors. “This is a tremendous win for the Westside Creeks, and we must thank the Administration and our federal delegation for their support which has helped secure this funding.”
“I would like to thank the Fort Worth District and the Southwest Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their efforts to move the Westside Creeks forward,” said Derek Boese, General Manager of the River Authority. “As local project sponsor, the River Authority will continue our close work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to jointly lead the Westside Creeks through design and construction. The River Authority’s past successful collaborations with the Corps of Engineers will help ensure that the Westside Creeks will be a project, like the Mission Reach, that the entire community will be proud of, and other cities from around the nation and world will learn from as they seek to restore their urban ecosystems.”
Using ecosystem restoration and recreation benefits as a foundation, the project will provide significant environmental and community benefits, such as improving environmental and water quality conditions in a densely populated urban area and advancing neighborhood transportation safety.