Sections of San Antonio River to be drained for cleaning
Sections of the San Antonio River will be drained starting Friday so crews can remove sediment and debris from the riverbed in a biennial cleanup of the popular tourist attraction.
From Friday through Jan. 21, the river will be drained from Josephine Street, north of the Pearl, to East Nueva Street, then from South Alamo Street, near the Blue Star Arts Complex, to Lone Star Boulevard.
Two sections of the river running through downtown won’t be affected: the downtown River Loop and the section between East Nueva and South Alamo, which is just under a 1mile stretch. River barges will continue running in the loop during the closure, the city said.
The draining and cleaning is part of the River Walk Maintenance Program, a partnership between several city departments and the San Antonio River Authority.
“Draining of the river is vital to ensuring it remains a clean and vibrant attraction for residents and visitors,” the city said in a written statement.
Spokeswoman Angie Galal said the project will begin with a partial drainage Friday and Saturday, followed by full drainage for the next week.
Crews will remove debris and sediment buildup, inspect the river channel and make any necessary repairs, the city said.
The river was previously drained in 2020 and 2022. During the most recent cleaning two years ago, which included the downtown loop, crews found chairs, toys and, of course, Fiesta beads in the riverbed.
A team from the San Antonio River Authority also inspected the drained area to search for invasive species, and found and removed about 500 nonnative apple snails.
The draining is typically done during the winter, as it’s a less busy tourism season, and the cooler temperatures help lessen odor issues that could come in warmer temperatures.