The San Antonio River at Mission Concepción

The San Antonio River at Mission Concepción. . Flooding Along The San Antonio River and its tributaries has caused extensive property damage and loss of life throughout the city's history. After a major flood in 1921, voters approved funding to widen, deepen, and straighten the river and San Pedro and Alazan creeks and build Olmos Dam. The first work on this massive project took place near Mission Concepción, beginning in late 1924 at the confluence of San Pedro Creek and the river. Both the creek and river channels were widened and a large river bend was straightened and filled. Another flood in 1946 resulted in the twenty-year San Antonio Channel Improvement Project, which included additional work on the river near Mission Concepción. While these projects improved flood control, they removed habitat and vegetation. In the late 1990s the San Antonio River Authority, working with the city, county, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, initiated the San Antonio River Improvements Project to restore the river's ecosystem and provide recreational opportunities. Completed in 2013, this project, including the Mission Reach here at Concepción, has revitalized the river and surrounding neighborhoods along a thirteen-mile-long path from Hildebrand Avenue to Mission Espada., Captions , 1. San Antonio flood engineer S.F. Crecelius drew maps documenting the river channel both before and after flood control work in the 1920s. This detail shows the river near Mission Concepción. , 2. The city purchased steam shovels and stump pullers in 1924 to widen and deepen the river channel and remove trees (left). Work continued in 1926 when a 2,100 foot bend in the river near Theo Avenue was filled and a new, straighter channel was constructed (middle). Archaeologists discovered the old river wall during excavations in 2010 (right). , 3. The San Antonio River Improvements Project in this area was designed to restore as much of the natural environment as possible as well as to provide recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike., Courtesy: San Antonio Municipal Archives, Office of the City Clerk. , Source: San Antonio Light, September 28, 1924; Courtesy: Hearst Corporation. , Source: San Antonio Light, June 2, 1926; Courtesy: Hearst Corporation. , Courtesy: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas at San Antonio. , Courtesy: San Antonio River Authority.