City drains San Antonio River for necessary, vital cleanup
Texas Public Radio | TPR••nation
Key Points:
- San Antonio's River Walk is undergoing a scheduled draining and cleanup from January 11 to 19, conducted every other year during the slower winter tourist season to maintain the area’s appeal.
- The operation involves removing invasive species such as sucker catfish, blue tilapia, and apple snails, as well as clearing sediment, trash, and abandoned items like bikes and dining furniture from the river.
- Biologists work to save and relocate native species during the draining, while the River Authority installs barriers to prevent apple snail reproduction and may perform repairs on the river channel’s concrete and stone structures.
- The cleanup can produce unpleasant odors due to decaying plant matter in the sediment, but no road closures will occur during the project.
