IT'S OUR TURN
People have been coming to Comal County for ages, and many who came before us were good stewards of the land. They cared for and protected the land, waterways, and unique natural features. Over time, individual families found ways to ensure that some of these special places could belong to the people. This video recognizes their contributions and highlights the many benefits these special areas have provided us and our families. It’s our turn now, to ensure these and other natural areas are protected for the benefit of future generations. |
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CCCA currently is not offering in-person programs or events. We will be participating in community outdoor events that are using CDC Covid protocols, and may hold small group and committee meetings where social distancing is possible.
(Updated: October 6, 2021)
(Updated: October 6, 2021)
CCCA
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COMAL LAND CONSERVATION FUND To support its mission of preserving land, water, and wildlife in Comal County, CCCA created the Comal Land Conservation Fund (CLCF). Read about this important fund and how your donations to the CLCF can help preserve the beautiful land and precious natural resources of Comal County. |
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HELP CCCA WHILE YOU SHOP AT AMAZON.SMILE When you shop on AmazonSmile you can also support our Comal Land Conservation Fund. Learn how you can do that on the Shop AmazonSmile page. |
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COME BY AND SAY "HI" AT THE NEW BRAUNFELS FARMERS MARKET When: Saturday, December 18 (9 AM to 1 PM) Visit CCCA volunteers at our booth at the Farmers Market! We’ll demonstrate how karst rock allows recharge of our aquifers, and share what's being done for conservation in Comal County, what still needs to be done, and what you can do to help. Please stop by and say "hi." Bring your family, too. We’ll have a special holiday nature make-and-take activity for the kids and a free “Keep Comal WILD” sticker for your car or truck to show your support for conservation in Comal County. |
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NEW CANYON LAKE BOAT RAMP ALLIANCE OUTLINES NEW STEPS AT COMMISSIONERS COURT Six members of the Canyon Lake Boat Ramps Community Alliance (CLBRCA) submitted a proposal for addressing multiple issues at county-operated boat ramps to Comal County Judge Sherman Krause today. Public comments and meetings will begin January 2022. |
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WE HAVE A NEW PARTNER: TEXAS HILL COUNTRY CONSERVATION NETWORK CCCA is pleased to announce that we have joined forces with a new partner, Texas Hill Country Conservation Network. The group was started by Hill Country Alliance several years ago and has grown to over 20 groups, including professionals and conservation nonprofits. CCCA's Board of Directors formalized the partner relationship by signing a resolution making our relationship with the THCCN even stronger. |
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LEARN ABOUT CARBON SEQUESTRATION & IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon sequestration is the process of storing carbon in a carbon pool. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical, and physical processes. These changes can be accelerated through changes in land use and agricultural practices, such as converting crop and livestock grazing land into land for non-crop fast growing plants. View two videos on our Climate Change page. |
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CONSERVATION INSIDER Did you miss our latest newsletter? Don't panic. Click here to read your copy. Become a "Friend of CCCA" to get the latest Conservation Insider, news of upcoming events, and other important information about preserving land, water, and wildlife in Comal County. |
COMAL & NEIGHBORING COUNTIES
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CHRISTMAS AT THE CAVERNS' RETURNS WITH MERRY ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES Toasty marshmallows, gliding skates and harmonious carols are back at Natural Bridge Caverns to ring in Christmas. This year’s annual “Christmas at the Caverns” is a family-friendly festivity which kicks off Dec. 4 through the first four weekends of the month. |
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SAVE THE BATS TO PROTECT ECOSYSTEM Of course, we all know the importance of wildlife garden ideas – they are a key part of our ecosystem and a vital part of protecting the planet. And while you might already have been feeding birds or – in the UK – have set up hedgehog houses – it is also important to spare a thought for bats. These winged mammals have so much to offer. A single bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes each hour – which makes a significant impact on mosquito population control – and surprisingly, bats are important pollinators for many plants, even some that are not pollinated by any other species. |
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SAN ANTONIO TO BE THE FIRST TEXAS CITY TO TRY OUT COOLER PAVEMENT TO COMBAT WARM TEMPS “What’s important about the urban heat island is that heat is absorbed all throughout the day,” said Murray Myers, the municipal sustainability manager for San Antonio’s Office of Sustainability. “It’s supposed to cool down at night, and it doesn’t because all that heat is then released back into the neighborhoods... .” |
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HILL COUNTRY COMMUNITIES CAN PURSUE DARK SKY DESIGNATION FOLLOWING NEW STATE LAW Across the more remote pockets of Hill Country, several communities are looking to attract tourism dollars and increase the quality of life for residents by utilizing a precious, shrinking natural resource—darkness—or rather, the absence of artificial light. With the authorization of a recent state bill, Senate Bill 1090, cities across Texas can again apply for a designation of a Dark Sky Community from the International Dark-Sky Association... . |
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN CONSERVATION IN THE HILL COUNTRY: WHY IT MATTERS & WHERE TO START This panel explores why diversity, equity, and inclusion are important for the conservation movement broadly, and how organizations can start or continue their journeys to be diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Also, download an extensive list of resources relating to conservation equity. |
TEXAS AND BEYOND
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AUDUBON SHARES VIDEO ON CLIMATE CHANGE Audubon scientists have studied the effects of climate threats on birds and found that the same things that threaten birds threaten our communities, natural spaces, and working lands. The good news is that there are abundant opportunities to make progress in the climate fight immediately. Birds tell us it’s not too late, but there’s no time to lose. Here is an immediate action you can take right now:
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HUMMINGBIRDS ARE COOLER THAN ME Read this delightful article where the author compares herself with the hummingbird. It will put a smile on your face. |
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YOUR HELP NEEDED IN REPORTING WINTER MONARCH SIGHTINGS Last winter, volunteers from across the Southeast and Gulf states provided more than 5,800 observations of monarch butterflies. This winter, the partnership of universities, agencies and other organizations called Monarchs Overwintering in Southeastern States is requesting the public’s continued involvement in reporting sightings. The public is encouraged to report monarch sightings from Dec. 1-March 1 in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Observations are entered in Journey North’s online data portal, where they are transformed into real-time mapping visualizations of monarch migration and breeding. Journey North is an organization designed to engage people across North America in tracking wildlife migration and seasonal change. |
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MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE MIGRATING ACROSS TEXAS. HERE'S HOW TO RAISE YOUR OWN. You’ll need the right kind of milkweed and plenty of patience. Armed with a small trowel, I leaned over on my hands and knees on a hot evening in August and carefully tried to rescue our fledgling butterfly garden. Aggressive ivy had wrapped around the little green milkweed stalks my wife and I had tried to protect, so I dug up each plant, placing it in a new pot with fresh compost and a light covering of mulch. I knew that all our hopes of having a healthy habitat for the native insects depended on the health of these plants ... . |
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THE MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURE OF AN EXCEPTIONAL BUCK It’s difficult to trap a good deer scientist. They leave themselves room to maneuver when you ask them for certainty about deer behavior, a sort of scientific CYA. Good deer scientists say “usually” instead of “always” and “rarely” instead of “never.” When a good “yes” or “no” is what you desire, they say “It depends.” And they should. Though we know a lot about the average deer’s biology and behavior, there are always rare exceptions. This is the story of an exceptional buck and his mysterious adventure ... . |
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TEXAS HORNED LIZARD HATCHLING RELEASE MARKS MILESTONE TO SAVE STATE REPTILE Once common, the Texas horned lizard is now one of more than 1,300 species of concern across the state. But there is good news for the little “horned toad.” Today, a coalition of zoos and wildlife scientists released 204 captive-raised hatchlings into the wild (100 of them hatched at the Fort Worth Zoo), and this follows new evidence this year that previously released lizards are now reproducing. Meanwhile, a landmark bipartisan proposal now moving through Congress, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, would bring the resources needed to save this species and hundreds like it. |
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GET YOUR KIDS TO SHOOT A VIDEO TO WIN PRIZES The Take Care of Texas Video Contest is a fun way for young people to learn about protecting the environment and come up with creative ways to share this knowledge with others! Students film a 30-second video that shows positive ways to Take Care of Texas. The students that submit the best videos can win great prizes, awarded by the contest sponsor, Waste Management of Texas, Inc. Students residing in Texas and enrolled in the 6th through 12th grade can participate. Contest starts January 4, 2022. |
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SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS Hats off to our great supporters. We appreciate these businesses and organizations that have supported CCCA conservation efforts and fundraisers. Our success is because of you. We can't thank you enough. |
