Mayor Phil Hardberger, who leaves office next month and made the revival of the river a centerpiece of his tenure, led the countdown along with County Judge Nelson Wolff and Tom Weaver, chairman of the San Antonio River Authority, which oversaw the project.
“It's hard to overstate the importance of what's going to happen” now that improvements to this section of the river are complete, Hardberger said.
The urban segment — Lexington Avenue to Josephine Street — is part of the larger, $279 million San Antonio River Improvements Project, which ultimately will extend 13 miles from the northern end of Brackenridge Park to Mission Espada on the South Side.
A collaborative effort by the city, Bexar County, the Army Corps of Engineers and the river authority, the project aims to recreate a more natural river on the southern end and fashion a more urbane park along the northern section.
The San Antonio River Foundation has raised private funds for public art along the river's banks.
Work on the first phase of the Mission Reach, from Lone Star Boulevard to San Pedro Creek, is under way and should be complete by January. More than $9 million in federal stimulus money will help speed construction of the second phase.
Calling the river the “central vein” that connects the entire city, Hardberger said its transformation from afterthought to centerpiece would “change the whole face of San Antonio.”
Wolff, always ready with a quip, pointed to the ducks standing atop the dam at Josephine Street.
“Even the ducks know this is an important day,” he said. “They're waiting for the water to flow.”
With Hardberger and Wolff leading the countdown, the assembled crowd peered anxiously over the railing at the dam, waiting for it to overflow.
At first, nothing. Then, a sprinkling of water.
“There it is!” someone shouted with relief.
Finally, a solid sheet of water emerged with a satisfying whoosh as it churned the stagnant water below.
Refilling the river will take three or four days. That the two-year project is on time and on budget is a testament to the contractor, Zachry Construction, Hardberger said.
The river is filling with treated water from San Antonio Water System's Dos Rios water recycling plant. SAWS is supplying about 12.5 cubic feet per second of recycled water for the river — about 8 million gallons a day.
Once it's full again, crews will inspect the new construction, including the lock and dam that will allow barges to travel upstream to the Pearl Brewery, to make sure everything is ready for the May 30 grand opening.
Hardberger invited the entire city to the festivities, which will include guided tours, food and live music from El Tropicano Hotel to the Pearl Brewery.