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Comal Land Conservation Fund (CLCF)To support its mission of preserving land, water, and wildlife in Comal County, CCCA has created the Comal Land Conservation Fund (CLCF). Click here to learn more and donate. |
In compliance with the current CDC guidelines, CCCA’s in-person events and programs will remain suspended until further notice. Please take precautions and stay well! (Updated 1/4/2021) |
The River Remembers the Flood of 2002
I am water.
I don't remember being a young river when the land was new
In deep history I weaved and braided over countless basins and banks
I barely trickled in the desert times, many times
I retreated to my birth hills when the salt seas rose, many times
Thunder lizards stalked my muddy flats, many times
My memory is ashy and hazy after those times.
I don't remember being a young river when the land was new
In deep history I weaved and braided over countless basins and banks
I barely trickled in the desert times, many times
I retreated to my birth hills when the salt seas rose, many times
Thunder lizards stalked my muddy flats, many times
My memory is ashy and hazy after those times.
I remember wandering again, receiving my smaller sisters and brothers
They nourished me as streams as I found my bed and grew wider, stronger
I became clear as I settled, tumbling down from cedar hills
Quenching the thirst of many prairies, carrying richness in my flows
Sometimes here, sometimes there, I was free to go
But always down, down to the last salty sea.
I was water.
They nourished me as streams as I found my bed and grew wider, stronger
I became clear as I settled, tumbling down from cedar hills
Quenching the thirst of many prairies, carrying richness in my flows
Sometimes here, sometimes there, I was free to go
But always down, down to the last salty sea.
I was water.
I remember the sound of the word my first Peoples called me
They wove nets and carved spears for my finned ones
Scooped with their gourds for my shelled ones
Hunted the furred ones on my banks
And drank from my being.
We were life.
They wove nets and carved spears for my finned ones
Scooped with their gourds for my shelled ones
Hunted the furred ones on my banks
And drank from my being.
We were life.
But a moment ago, the People built walls in my bed
Slowing my flow to the sea until I coursed over their wall
Only to find another. And another.
My waters muddied with stillness and the waste of the People.
My edges became thick with green ones I did not know
My turtle ones could not find pebbled places for their eggs
We lost their lives and others.
Still, I am water.
Slowing my flow to the sea until I coursed over their wall
Only to find another. And another.
My waters muddied with stillness and the waste of the People.
My edges became thick with green ones I did not know
My turtle ones could not find pebbled places for their eggs
We lost their lives and others.
Still, I am water.
But so ditched and tamed and treated
That sometimes I rage and must take revenge
My Father the Sky helps and fills me
When I feel my old woven braids of low courses needing me
So curbed am I, I usually only creep and sprawl
Yet once, an instant ago, I crashed around the canyon wall
Threw down boulders the size of mammoths
Carved an angry new trail for myself
And showed the People those thunder lizard tracks
In the river I used to be.
That sometimes I rage and must take revenge
My Father the Sky helps and fills me
When I feel my old woven braids of low courses needing me
So curbed am I, I usually only creep and sprawl
Yet once, an instant ago, I crashed around the canyon wall
Threw down boulders the size of mammoths
Carved an angry new trail for myself
And showed the People those thunder lizard tracks
In the river I used to be.
by: Nancy Masterson, Creekside Poets, Seguin, TX, December 2019
Note: The Cagle's Map Turtle, once common in the Guadalupe River, is on the Endangered Species List. Canyon Gorge, formed in the Guadalupe River flood of 2002, reveals dinosaur tracks 111 million years old
WHAT'S INSIDE FOR APRIL & MAY?
April 10, 2021 CONSERVATION INSIDER Didn't get the latest Conservation Insider? Sign up in the popup box to never miss a copy. But, you can still find out what's been happening and what's going to happening by clicking "Conservation Insider." |
April 9, 2021 2021 EVENTS MARK YOUR CALENDARS! WHAT: CCCA Evening Program WHEN: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 6:00 – 7:00 PM WHERE: Zoom Our evening program will be on “Saving our Rural Land Heritage.” Guest speakers are David K. Langford of the Hillingdon Ranch in Kendall County, and Rob and Teresa Ohlrich Johnson of the JO Ranch in Comal County. They will tell their stories about their families’ use of conservation easements as a tool to preserve their families’ land and ranching heritage along with the natural and cultural heritage of our beautiful Texas Hill Country. Share with your rural landowners friends. |
April 9, 2021 PARTNERS Working to save Comal County from the loss of land, water, and wildlife isn't an easy task, but it helps to have the support of our great Partners. Welcome Comal County Friends of the Night Sky and Bulverde Neighborhoods for Clean Water. We are pleased to have you join us! |
April 6, 2021 FOR KIDS BAT BOXES: HELP TEXAS BATS BOUNCE BACK Hi Kids. Snovid killed or harmed thousands of bats. As bats migrate from Mexico back to Texas they need safe places to call home. You can help by building a bat house. Check out For Kids to learn how. There's a great video to help you along. Have fun while saving our wildlife. |
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April 19 — May 7, 2021 CERTIFY YOUR BUSINESS OR RESIDENCE WITH LIGHTS OUT FOR WILDLIFE Texans love our wildlife and abundant natural heritage. Unfortunately, Texas birds are declining, in part due to collisions with brightly lit businesses, homes, and other buildings. We’re calling on all Texans to go Lights Out for Wildlife and save birds by dimming non-essential lighting, April 19 to May 7 from 11 PM to 6 AM. With the simple flip of a switch, each of us can do our part to protect millions of migrating birds soaring across our Lone Star sky. Certify your business or residence with Lights Out for Wildlife. You will receive a certificate to celebrate your commitment to conservation and you'll inspire others to join in. It's free! |
CONSERVATION NEWS
Friends of Landa Park to meet. DATE: Monday, April 12, 2021 TIME: 10 AM PLACE: Founders Oak PURPOSE: 1. To gather socially as members and guests of Friends for the Preservation of Historic Landa Park a. Bring your lawn chair and beverage of choice b. Cookies will be provided 2. To clean up the flower bed in front of Founders Oak a. Bring your tools and gloves to trim Sago Palms, variegated ginger, oleanders, grasses b. Masks and social distancing as appropriate 3. Rain date—Monday, April 19 CONTACT: Tim Barker 830 629 5015 etbarker@sbcglobal.net |
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Although slightly later than in recent years, Texas bluebonnets and other native flowers started to bloom in the Austin area in mid-March. (Nicholas Cicale/Community Impact Newspaper)
Here’s what to expect this wildflower season, how to identify Central Texas speciesTired of being indoors? Take a walk to our parks or drive to the countryside to view beautiful Spring Texas wildflowers. These wildflowers seem to do better with a bit of cold weather before they bloom, so snowvid did them no harm. |
NOTICE OF OPEN MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL FLOOD PLANNING GROUP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (RFPG) REGION 12
Annalisa Peace and Debbie Reid of GEAA have been appointed to represent environmental interests on the Region 12 San Antonio Regional Flood Planning Group Executive Committee. Comal County is within Region 12. Since these meetings are held during the day, GEAA representatives have requested that RFPG schedule at least one evening meeting devoted exclusively to hearing public concerns. Stay tuned for the date and time and, please, plan to participate. You will have the opportunity to review and comment on preliminary plans for mitigating flooding. GEAA will be sharing these plans as they become available. Sharing your knowledge of historical flooding in your local area, as well as your recommendations and concerns are a vital part of this process. So, speak now. To get the schedule of the meetings for Region 12 and make comments online, please click here: https://www.twdb.texas.gov/flood/planning/regions/schedule.asp |
NOTICE OF OPEN MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL FLOOD PLANNING GROUP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (RFPG) REGION 12
CONTINUED, Written comments may be sent to: <mailto:dmeyer@theprpc.org> (210) 302-3293 You may also submit written comments at any time to: RFPG 11 - Guadalupe Watershed: Lauren Willis 933 E. Court St., Seguin, TX 78155 <mailto:lwillis@gbra.org> You can submit comments on-line at: https://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=44334883&msgid=502873&act=NBOG&c =431426&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guadaluperfpg.org%2FContact.aspx&cf=328 1&v=ecb569f0c4d7f5c9fe7847918d5b08a89e68f45ef5317fd6d1ba4f21112ffcd6 Written comments from our GEAA member groups are also most welcome. |
It's Our Turn! |
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Contact Us: info@comalconservation.org
Mailing Address: Comal County Conservation Alliance — PO Box 2804 — Canyon Lake, TX 78133
Mailing Address: Comal County Conservation Alliance — PO Box 2804 — Canyon Lake, TX 78133
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComalCCAlliance/
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Twitter: @ComalCCAlliance
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