Like Venice, San Antonio’s River Walk is running clear during coronavirus shutdowns
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Twitter user @rdrunner, or Ulises, is familiar with what the San Antonio River usually looks like because it’s his usual jogging trail. His Wednesday morning visit, exempt in the stay at home orders, stopped him in his tracks. The water, which is usually murky and the butt of jokes by people like Mark Cuban, was unclouded on San Antonio’s first day under the Stay Home Work Safe mandate.
Twitter user @rdrunner, or Ulises, is familiar with what the San Antonio River usually looks like because it’s his usual jogging trail. His Wednesday morning visit, exempt in the stay at home orders, stopped
Photo: Courtesy, @rdrunner_
Twitter user @rdrunner, or Ulises, is familiar with what the San Antonio River usually looks like because it’s his usual jogging trail. His Wednesday morning visit, exempt in the stay at home orders, stopped him in his tracks. The water, which is usually murky and the butt of jokes by people like Mark Cuban, was unclouded on San Antonio’s first day under the Stay Home Work Safe mandate.
Twitter user @rdrunner, or Ulises, is familiar with what the San Antonio River usually looks like because it’s his usual jogging trail. His Wednesday morning visit, exempt in the stay at home orders, stopped
Photo: Courtesy, @rdrunner_
San Antonio’s River Walk, often dubbed the Venice of Texas, is similar to the famous Italian city’s canals in another way — both are clear while residents and tourists self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic.
Twitter user @rdrunner, or Ulises, whose normal jogging trail is along the San Antonio River was stopped in his tracks by what he saw during his run Wednesday. The water, which is usually murky and the butt of jokes from people like Mark Cuban, was clear on San Antonio’s first day under the “Stay Home, Work Safe” order.
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The photos he took, near Rita’s on the River, show the water is so clear that rocks can be seen on the riverbed. Ulises’ tweet has been racking up attention by the thousands. Some are playing an online game of “I spy,” pointing out objects like spiders, crabs and beads likely left over from Mardi Gras events in February. Others jokesters added an image of Spurs legend Tim Duncan with a beluga whale onto the photo.
People have also marveled at photos of the Venice Canals, which have been described as “crystal clear” since locals were asked to stay indoors.
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The environmental sciences staff for the San Antonio River Authority says the clarity can be attributed to the suspension of river barge traffic, which stirs up sediment. Go Rio Cruises, which is the exclusive barge operator on the river, suspended tours on March 19 in accordance with Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s health declaration. Bars and restaurants have also been mandated to shut up shop in an effort to mitigate the virus.
The river authority said the “lack of patrons at restaurants feeding ducks, and reduced availability of food sources that attract birds, which can contribute waste in the river,” is also helping the transparency.
Ulises also noticed the water was clear in the King William and Mission Reach areas, which are not part of the barge tour routes.
Also, it isn’t just that the river barges aren’t kicking up dirt on the Riverwalk anymore… the Mission Trail side of the river (south of downtown) is also cleaner, maybe because less pollutants are making their way into it. https://t.co/V0cJhx7Pov pic.twitter.com/e8nF99XBPC
— ULISES (@rdrunner_) March 25, 2020
In addition to the reduced foot and barge traffic, the environmental team for the river authority said weather can also play a factor.
Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | [email protected] | @MaddySkye
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