Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the river and where does it end?
The 240-mile San Antonio River ends in Refugio County where it converges with the Guadalupe River before entering the Gulf of Mexico through San Antonio Bay.

Why is the San Antonio River in the River Walk area so narrow?
Because the headwaters, Olmos Creek and the Blue Hole Spring, are located very near downtown San Antonio.

Why are people being asked not to feed the wildlife in the River Walk and downtown San Antonio areas?
Because the feeding of wildlife is not good for the river or the wildlife. It attracts more wildlife than the habitat would support, makes those wildlife dependent on human handouts, reduces the diversity of wildlife in the area, and can result in degradation of the habitat. Human food also fails to meet the wildlife’s dietary needs. Therefore, they consume more than they would on their natural diets. This speeds up their digestive process, resulting in more wildlife poop and more bacteria in the river—some of which washes into the river from streets, parks, sidewalks, and other areas where wildlife are fed at street-level in the downtown area. Currently, the San Antonio River within the River Walk does not meet state stream standards for bacteria.

What does Paseo del Rio mean in English?
It is the Spanish term for River Walk.

What does the word Yanaguana mean?
It was the Payaya Indian name for the San Antonio River.

Was the loop that forms the historical River Walk segment created to be a tourist destination?
The path of the river as it meanders through the River Walk loop generally follows the river’s original course. In the 1930’s, a City of San Antonio engineer named Robert H. H. Hugman envisioned a river corridor with Old World charm. Looking at the neglected banks and channel, he imagined a river worthy of having businesses turn their fronts toward it. With support of the newly-created San Antonio Conservation Society, Hugman’s vision succeeded in suppressing an alternate plan to pave over the river as part of the growing city’s storm drain system. Hugman also recognized the need to protect the land surrounded on three sides by the river, so his plan included flood control dams at both ends of the loop and a man-made channel that runs parallel to the Bexar County Courthouse. During flood events, the dams are activated, and the River Walk loop and extension are protected.

Who maintains the River Walk?
Primary responsibility within the River Walk Loop and the Convention Center Extension is with the San Antonio Downtown Operations Department.

What are some of the functions provided on the River Walk Loop and Convention Center Expansion by the City of San Antonio’s Downtown Operations Department?
Downtown Operations crews pressure wash 2,404,080 sq. ft. of River Walk sidewalks yearly and have 77 trash receptacles along the River Walk. In fiscal year 2009, Downtown Ops planted 71,987 annuals on the River Walk and throughout downtown. They maintain 490,000 sq.ft. of landscaped River Walk and 6.1 miles of River Walk and sidewalk.

Who are the people in yellow shirts with an “i” symbol on their sleeves?

The people in yellow shirts are “Amigos.” They work for Centro San Antonio which promotes tourism, works with downtown residents and encourages downtown business development. The ever-friendly Amigos are not only ambassadors along the River Walk and downtown streets, but they help maintain the beauty of downtown San Antonio as well. Every day of the year, the Amigos are out helping visitors with directions, informing tourists about SA attractions, serving as safety escorts, caring for the landscaping and cleaning up. They can even provide first aid if needed. You can learn more about Centro San Antonio, downtown San Antonio attractions and the Amigos at www.downtownsanantonio.org.

How many people do the Amigos assist?
The daily average is 1,960.

How many square feet of sidewalks are the Amigos responsible for power washing?
The daily average is 25,638 and the monthly average is 769,141.

What else do the Amigos do?
Monthly, they average removal of 533 graffiti tags, replacement of 641 plants, and collection of 6,073 bags of trash within the downtown area.

How many people live in the downtown area?
Approximately 4,534, which includes urban-style dwellings in the King William and Lavaca areas but not single-family dwellings.

How many people visit the River Walk each year?
It is estimated that over 5 million people visit each year.

How do you clean the river to collect trash, bottles, etc.?
Lady Echo is a specially designed barge with two long “arms” that reach the banks. The “arms” have mesh bags attached that skim the water’s surface and catch the trash. Lady Echo sweeps the river twice daily.

How deep is the River?
Generally speaking in most areas it is only 3 – 4 feet deep in the historic bend. In the main channel, it is as deep as 20 feet.

Why does the water look clearer in the morning and then get cloudier later in the day?
The Rio San Antonio Cruise boats “stir up” the silt on the bottom and sides of the river, hence, the water gets cloudier during the day.

Is the River Walk ever closed?
The River Walk is a linear public park, and is open 24/7/365. The shops and restaurants are all operated privately, so they determine their hours of operation.

Why is the river within the River Walk drained each year?
The River is drained once a year in January so that the City of San Antonio can clean the river bed. Each year, cameras, sunglasses, cell phones, silverware, Mardi Gras beads and even parade chairs are removed from the river bed! One year, the crews were most surprised when they found a port-o-pottie buried in the mud!