River OF dreams

Texans are sometimes known for their big brag and a penchant for superlatives. But in this case, the reputation is earned: One of the largest, most ambitious urban river restoration efforts in the country has transformed a section of the San Antonio River — what was once a concrete drainage ditch described as an open sewer — into a rich ecosystem of riparian plant and avian life.

The San Antonio River Improvements Project revitalized 13 miles of the river, including the seven-year, $271.4 million restoration of the section called the Mission Reach. The work on the Mission Reach created 113 acres of aquatic habitat, including marshes, pools, runs, and riffles, and 334 acres of green habitat, planted with more than 20,000 native trees and shrubs and over 60 species of grasses and wildflowers.

In 2015, San Antonio began assessing the project’s impact on birds. Led by consultant Martin Reid, the Mission Reach Avian Study has logged 203 species and over 64,000 individual birds actively using the restored habitat. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are nesting along the river. Painted Buntings are singing for mates. Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers are migrating through. Unexpected guests include endangered and threatened species, including Interior Least Tern, Reddish Egret, and Wood Stork.