The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has been awarded $1.5 million to launch a pilot project at Mitchell Lake in South San Antonio to help improve water quality, transform the surrounding area, and improve the quality of life for residents on the Southside of San Antonio. Securing funds for SAWS to complete a study on Mitchell Lake improvements has been a top priority of the Chamber for many years, and this victory is a direct result of incredibly successful SA to DC trips. We applaud Congressman Will Hurd (TX-23) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) for helping to secure the funding.
Mitchell Lake is a Southside jewel and a world-class eco-resource positioned on a natural bird migratory route, making it a topnotch bird-watching site that attracts visitors to San Antonio year-round. Mitchell Lake was one of San Antonio’s first centralized wastewater treatment plants, and SAWS has been conducting extensive planning for the development of Mitchell Lake and the surrounding area over the past 25 years. In December 2002, SAWS Board committed $1.5 million to improve roads and bridges on the property and to build a visitor's center. Those improvements were completed in January 2004.
Last week, thanks to many years of committed advocacy led by SAWS, your San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and other community partners, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) allocated $1.5 million to SAWS to conduct a study to determine whether manmade wetlands can help filter pollution leaving San Antonio’s Mitchell Lake. The funding will help SAWS install water-filtering wetland plants and make changes to a dam to help control water levels.
"The Mitchell Lake project is a critical piece of the development of South San Antonio and will continue to provide our community a recreational and educational benefit," said Robert R. Puente, SAWS President/CEO. "Leadership of our Board, community, and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce have been instrumental in ensuring awareness of this unique San Antonio gem."
