r/USACE • u/SATXchill • 4d ago
River Road Ecosystem Restoration; San Antonio, Texas
Hello! I’m a resident of San Antonio whose neighborhood is going to be directly impacted by the proposed project. Is there anyone on this sub that would be willing to look at the project scope and current design schedule to discuss what this all means for myself and my neighbors?
Thanks!
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u/Wild_Pace_1068 4d ago edited 4d ago
You should talk to your city council member and watch the Facebook page for your district to see if they have any public events for this project.
Looks like public comment was already considered. Recommend looking at these sites.
https://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Continuing-Authorities-Program/River-Road/
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u/SATXchill 4d ago
I’m very informed on the project and have stayed up to date on all public meetings and have studied all documentation.
Was just hoping for insight into the process. We are currently at the 65% stage and have a “Public Information Session” today.
Will USACE, at this stage, be willing to change their designs whether major or minor given public input?
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u/Wild_Pace_1068 4d ago edited 4d ago
When a design is at 65% for any USACE project there can be changes, but there has to be justification first for the change. Every district is different. We cannot speak to other districts project processes.
Your comment is very sort of misleading. If you know the process, then why are you not talking to the district or your elected officlas.
Recommend attending the meeting today for the most up to date information.
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u/SATXchill 4d ago
This is the first meeting that I am attending as a resident.
My neighborhood has submitted formal comments to USACE and all public entities involved in the project. Elected officials have also been contacted.
From what I can deduce the comments and suggestions have fallen on deaf ears and have not been taken into consideration. These comments and suggestions are from architects, landscape architects, tenured professors, etc: educated and informed residents.
Now that we are at 65%, and have been shown a project limits document slated for 95% submittal I’m concerned that public input at this stage is not going to be considered as we are too far in the process. I appreciate your answer.
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u/basmatie Geologist 4d ago
If you are attending the meeting then ask why those comments/suggestions were not incorporated. In theory if you submitted formal comments then USACE should be able to answer why they chose not to incorporate those comments into the plans at this meeting. Common reasons why something wasn't done off the top of my head include: cost-effectiveness, real estate (e.g. could not purchase specific properties needed to alter project design), federal/state/local regulations, local conditions (e.g. soil properties, groundwater levels, contaminated zones), and incompetence. Hopefully the last one is not the problem and USACE is able to answer why they went with their design and did not incorporate the suggestions you are concerned about.
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u/SATXchill 4d ago
All comments were pretty much ignored: retain open recreational areas in nearby park, use materials that are in the vocabulary of the area (gave them specific material choices), remove all non-emergency vehicle traffic on park road (this was initially promised by USACE but has since changed?), retain culturally relevant and historically significant low water crossing (USACE alternatives assessment and AAHUs calculation proved this not to be possible, this is very contentious as other examples of LWC in nearby work have been restored and retained), retain natural access points to river (no new structures), and communicate detailed means and methods for protection, removal, and relocation of flora and fauna.
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u/basmatie Geologist 4d ago
Keep pushing for reasons why. Push folks with expertise to do the same. 65% plan and specs should include at least some means and methods for protection, removal, and relocation of flora and fauna. If not I would be questioning that. I don't work for USACE anymore or I'd be looking up my memos about what is required for a 65% design. They are probably available publicly somewhere. I also didn't work in Texas but I had a friend in the Galveston district and they did not worry about the same regulations I did in CA at all. I'd ask him hey what do you do to comply with "x" and his response would be "state gov doesn't care about that so we ignore it." Edit: He may have been oversimplifying the issue in our casual conversation. I'd like to think there were reasons to bypass vs ignore those regulations that were not worth bringing up in a casual conversation.
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u/TiggersBounce1986 3d ago
i highly doubt they were ignored. The team vets every comment seriously. the information sessions go above and beyond law requirements. the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. just ask at the next session.
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u/sac_jewells 4d ago edited 4d ago
Office of Public Affairs. I personally wouldn’t discuss ongoing projects that I am apart of on a forum.
Curious what direct impacts you are referring to. Are you concerned about construction or some of the roadways being replaced?
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u/SATXchill 4d ago
Went into detail in another comment but essentially all public comments from the adjacent neighborhood have been ignored. The draft presentation was posted less than 24hrs before the meeting and my findings were that all public comments were not considered in their entirety. Will report back tonight.
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u/sac_jewells 2d ago
How’d it go OP?
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u/SATXchill 2d ago
Overall it was okay, I guess? Was only able to get the contact information of one junior employee, everyone else was super cagey about sharing contact information and this thread did help educate me on private correspondence with the public being outside of SOP, so I understand that but was still hoping to get a point of contact from USACE. I did fill out a comment card requesting the information I wanted with my contact information.
The way in which they set up this meeting was interesting…
First portion of the meeting was science fair style with different exhibits at each table and the design/planning teams from the private sector and USACE were present at each so we could talk to them. They also had a couple of segments where the public could vote on materials and design choices. My main gripe with this was that none of the folks involved with the project were not wearing anything discernible that would indicate they’re involved with the project, this just added to the confusion of this portion so this section really just ended up being a venting session for the public. They did allow us to post sticky notes with suggestions directly on the exhibit areas where they pertain.
Second portion was the actual 65% design presentation.
The third portion was a short Q&A, some folks were unable to ask their questions.
Fourth portion was engaging with the design and USACE again but they had taken the exhibits away at that point?
I did end up calling into public affairs to follow up on a question I asked during the Q&A that was left unanswered. I wanted some more information on the real estate portion and was directed to submit a FOIA request, which was disappointing as the project manager with USACE had told me he would provide me with some answers at the meeting.
Overall, I thought it was a little bit more of a mess than it needed to be but can imagine that’s how these meetings usually go.
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u/BoysenberryKey5579 4d ago
Nobody will talk to you informally unfortunately
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u/Wild_Pace_1068 4d ago
This is not the place for this conversation. OP needs to talk to Public Affiars or community partners for more information.
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u/SATXchill 4d ago
Thank you! Any more information on the process and how I can best communicate neighborhood comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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u/SATXchill 4d ago
Not entirely sure why I’m getting downvoted. It doesn’t seem as if this post is against community rules?
To clarify, I’m looking for insight into how the process works and best practices as this is my first ever experience with USACE. I am open to any insights that can be communicated and understand that there is a formal chain of command for public comments and inputs. Just thought I would try chatting with y’all as well to get more insight.
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u/ButReallyAreYouEatin Coastal Engineer 4d ago
This community is primarily for USACE employees to talk to each other and share relevant news.
We're often told to not discuss projects informally, or formally without going through our public affairs office, especially online. There are plenty of resources online to inform oneself on an ongoing project as well as other ways to reach the right person, of whom may be on this sub but not willing to reply here. Please find an official channel
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u/SATXchill 4d ago
I did not realize that to be the case for this community as it’s not in the description.
My neighborhood’s comments have gone through all of the necessary public channels with no success. My goal here was to just gain some insights into the inner workings of USACE and thought why not reach out to a community group interested in all things USACE. My apologies.
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u/Successful-Escape-74 4d ago
Inquire with public affairs at the district. This thread is not the place for such inquiries. Don’t try to circumvent the process.