LEON CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio Water Systems, 2001

We prepared comprehensive inventory and analysis of "targeted opportunities" for site -specific stream bed and bank restoration using ecologically-sensitive solutions. Tasks included working with both historic and contemporary aerial photos, infra-red images, in concert with topo and ownership maps. Evaluations included on the ground observations for different, viable plant and animal communities with a multidisciplinary team, in the context of different microcosms in the floodplain environment. Recommendations were then made for large, medium and small scale applications for interpretive, restoration, and structural best management practices. Applications included evaluation of channel dynamics and an understanding of scouring, eroding, channel bifurcation and braiding, bar development, sediment plumes, energy dissipation zones, interrelationship to surface geology, bank profiles, vegetative cover, and the interface all of these characteristics played on the water quality, ecological vitality of the creek system. Goals included test structural stormwater BMP design, recreational interface, interpretive potential, and involving the local citizenry in clean up, restoration, and "adoption" programs.