100 East Guenther
P.O. Box 839980
San Antonio, Texas 78283-9980
210-227-1373 voice
210-227-4323 fax
[email protected]
News Release
For Immediate Release
October 9, 2015
Clarissa Perez
For more information contact:
Community Relations Coordinator
(210) 302-3623
[email protected]
SARA AWARDS FUNDING TO SCHOOL GRANT RECIPIENTS
Two schools awarded $25,000 School Green Infrastructure Grant
SAN ANTONIO, TX— The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) awarded grants of up to
$25,000 each, to two schools in the San Antonio River Watershed. SARA’s School Green
Infrastructure Grant (School GI Grant) provides funds to build stormwater runoff capture
features on school grounds within Bexar, Wilson, Karnes and Goliad counties. The purpose
of this grant is to educate the students and faculty about campus drainage including how
stormwater runoff affects our creeks and rivers, localized flooding and erosion, and how to
address these issues utilizing green infrastructure solutions.
Green infrastructure (GI) is an approach to stormwater management that protects, restores or
mimics the natural water cycle. GI is often incorporated into Low Impact Development (LID)
design projects. GI utilizes vegetation, soils and/or natural processes to clean stormwater,
slow the flow of water across the land, and reduce the amount of flow by providing infiltration
opportunities. These practices help protect the San Antonio River Basin and wildlife by
improving water quality.
The winners of the 2014/15 School GI Grant are Ferdinand Herff Elementary (Bexar County),
and Floresville South Elementary (Wilson County). The grant at Herff Elementary funded two
rain garden cells and a 650 gallon cistern. Runoff from adjacent roofs is directed to the rain
gardens, which has native vegetation such as Frog Fruit, Silver Poney Foot, Turks Cap, Wooly
Stemodia, and Mealy Blue Sage. A 15-ft. Mexican Sycamore will provide shade as it matures.
Stormwater is also captured by a cistern, alleviating standing water in the courtyard. Floresville
South had an extensive network of concrete drainage channels. Strategic cuts were made to
the concrete, and gabion walls were used to direct stormwater to a rain garden and to a
bioswale to allow infiltration. Native plants were also used in the rain garden and bordering
the bioswale.
Page 2 – SARA’s School GI Grant
Funds are applicable for design, construction, and installation of rain gardens, bioswales,
cisterns, or a combination. SARA’s educators will provide in-class, hands-on, TEKS aligned
presentations, lessons, and activities dedicated to the importance of green infrastructure
solutions. Student gardeners at both school will tend to the gardens throughout the school
year.
There are four (4) grants for the 2015/16 school year. K – 12 public schools are eligible. Please
visit SARA’s School GI Grant Page for information on the 2015/16 application, rules, and
guidelines.
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The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) was created by the 45th Texas Legislature on May 5, 1937 and
reorganized in 1961 to plan, manage and implement water-related programs and projects within the San Antonio
River Watershed. The State of Texas empowered SARA to preserve, protect and manage the resources and the
ecology of the San Antonio River and its tributaries. To learn more about the SARA, visit our website at www.saratx.org.