Connecting Communities and Ecosystems in San Antonio
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“We want people to be able to connect with their river, and that comes with making the river safe, clean and enjoyable all around the basin.”
— Caille Marshall, Aquatic Biologist, San Antonio River Authority
Restoration in Action: From Concrete Channels to Living Systems
In San Antonio, Texas, a dynamic team of scientists, engineers, and community leaders is transforming the city’s relationship with its waterways. At the heart of this work is the San Antonio River Authority, a watershed management organization working to restore natural river functions while ensuring the region’s rivers are clean, safe, and accessible to all.
In this film, we meet aquatic biologist Caille Marshall at Confluence Park — where the San Antonio River meets San Pedro Creek — to explore how decades of ecological restoration have reshaped the city’s historic Mission Reach. From reintroducing native mussels to redesigning riparian zones and stream crossings, the River Authority’s work is grounded in cross-departmental collaboration and adaptive management.
Once channelized for flood control and stripped of habitat, this stretch of river now supports native species, healthier ecosystems, and vibrant public use. By restoring flow, vegetation, and aquatic connectivity, the team is creating a river system that’s resilient to climate change and rich with life, human and nonhuman alike.
As new restoration projects begin and more communities join the effort, the San Antonio River Authority’s approach serves as a model for urban river recovery — where environmental science meets civic pride, and rivers become spaces for connection, culture, and conservation.
About the San Antonio River Authority
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