By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A major reconstruction of a popular San Felipe Creek walkway is slated to get underway in July.
Assistant City Public Works Director Greg Velazquez gave an update on the project to Del Rio City Council members during their May 24 meeting.
Before Velazquez began his presentation, City Manager John Sheedy advised the council that the start of work on the creek walkway would be delayed until after the city’s Fourth of July celebration.
“We had initially intended to start in the next two weeks (late May or early June), but we didn’t want to have interference with the Fourth of July activities,” Sheedy said.
Velazquez said initial work on the project is now slated to begin in mid-July and be completed in mid-December.
Velazquez first walked the council members through a history of the project, which the city began in earnest in 2018. He said the council authorized a work order for design plans in January of that year, and the plans were completed in December 2020 and submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
He noted the city was required to have a biologist on the project because the San Felipe Creek has been designated as critical habitat for the Devils River Minnow.
The council awarded a construction contract for a portion of the project in the creek from the Lt. Thomas Romanelli Memorial Park footbridge to an area about 600 feet downstream of the Dr. Alfredo Gutierrez Jr. Amphitheatre in July 2021 and submitted a request for a permit for the construction to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in November 2021. The city received its permit from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in March. The permit for the construction work will expire in March 2023.
Velazquez reminded the council there are several sites along the creek slated for reconstruction projects, but noted funds have only been allocated for the work being planned for this year.
Velazquez said the first order of business for the company that will be doing the reconstruction work is to place a cofferdam in the creek just off the work site.
“The cofferdam is basically a big old bladder just basically to dam up an area of the bank. Some flagstone will be replaced, and also some concrete will be placed,” Velazquez told the council.
He said the construction company would determine the size of the bladder for the cofferdam once they arrive on-site.
“Also, the biologist will be on-site during this process, and that’s because of the habitats we have there at the creek,” Velazquez added.
He said the entire creek would not be dammed in the area where construction will take place.
“I’m glad we are finally moving on this. It has been a while. So we had hoped to do (work on the other sections). Do we have an approximate on how much we think that might cost, and are we going to go for another grant for that?” Mayor Pro-Tem Jim DeReus asked after Velazquez completed his presentation.
“I think the additional (work) is about $500,000,” Velazquez replied.
“Any grants we might be able to get for that?” DeReus asked.
“It would be nice, but we have to work with our grant people to see if we can get some grants from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,” Velazquez replied.
“This (reconstruction) is a must, and I’m glad to see it’s happening,” Councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon said.
She reiterated DeReus’ comments that the city try and seek grants to complete the remainder of the work and asked the city to publicize the incipient construction.
“I’m really glad to see this is finally going to happen,” Councilman Alfredo “Fred” Carranza Jr. commented.
“There are several areas of the creek that are being used more now, right past the highway bridge, that area called the rapids, and a couple of other places, so maybe while they’re out there or maybe the city can work in conjunction with this company, we need some egress to the creek, to be able to get in and out, steps, or something like that. So maybe if we can look into that,” Carranza added.
“Yes, sir, definitely,” Velazquez said.
Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez said she was happy to see the item for the creek walkway project on the agenda.
“It sure has taken awhile, but I’m glad it’s finally becoming a reality, and with school being out, the kids are always out there,” she added.
Councilman J.P. Sanchez asked if the gates on the Tardy Dam at San Felipe Lions Memorial Park would be opened to reduce the level of water in the creek, adding that area is “a prime swimming area,” but noting the temporary loss of swimming areas along that portion of the creek are the price of progress for doing the reconstruction work.
The creek walkway was severely damaged in the devastating flood of the San Felipe Creek in August 1998.
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