San Antonio public works crews have drained the San Antonio River channel to allow cleaning and maintenance of the downtown section of the iconic waterway.
Spokeswoman April Alcoser of the city Transportation and Capital Improvements department said the river was drained before dawn Monday through downtown. Water was left in the downtown loop lined by the River Walk shops and restaurants, however.
Photos published in the San Antonio Express-News showed debris found in the drained river included such items as eating utensils, salt shakers and costume beads.
Crews are scheduled to finish their work Friday and water will return to the channel next Tuesday.
The historic downtown loop was drained and cleaned in 2011.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
