SAN ANTONIO – A bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives targeting water infrastructure across the United States will have ripple effects in San Antonio.
On Wednesday, lawmakers approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), forwarding legislation to improve waterways nationwide. The bill now goes to the Senate before being sent to the president for approval
Martinez Creek on San Antonio’s West Side is poised to receive a “full aquatic ecosystem restoration,” according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro’s office.
“Decades ago, San Antonio paved over miles of creeks in an effort to prevent deadly floods on the Westside,” Castro said. “Today, modern urban planning and design techniques make it possible to restore the creeks without the flood risks we faced generations ago.”
The passage of the WRDA will allow San Antonio to “fully restore” Martinez Creek to include a revitalized space, according to the release.
“The underserved neighborhoods surrounding Martinez Creek deserve a larger share of our community investments and I’m proud to bring this progress to the Westside,” Castro said.
In an emailed statement to KSAT, District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo, whose district features much of the ecosystem, praised the efforts of Castro and the other representatives.
“I am grateful that there has been a concerted effort form Congressman Joaquin Castro to ensure that our creeks are restored to its former glory,” Castillo said. “Not only does it aesthetically look appealing, it also allows the Westside to restore its former ecosystem, which is a benefit for our residents and the environment.”
Last week, San Antonio City Council voted to rename the Westside Creeks Ecosystem to honor a longtime San Antonio River Authority board member.
The system will now be known as the Roberto Rodriguez Westside Creeks Ecosystem. Rodriguez, a longtime supporter of the ecosystem, spent time serving on the San Antonio River Authority’s board of directors, a position he took on in 2001.
Castro and other representatives passed legislation in 2021 that helped fund the Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration Project. The project will restore the five creeks in the system.
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