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PAST EVENTS 2022 |
November Program: "Texas Water: A Review & Outlook"
Todd H. Votteler, Ph.D., President of Collaborative Water Resolution, LLC
WHEN: Wednesday, November 9, 6:00 — 7:30 PM
WHERE: McKenna Events Center, 801 W San Antonio St, New Braunfels
WHERE: McKenna Events Center, 801 W San Antonio St, New Braunfels
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Another year, another drought? Or more candidly, is drought a normal condition in Texas? As CCCA has focused this entire year’s programs on water, our final speaker for 2022 is none other than Todd Votteler, Ph.D. He discussed the current drought and critical issues regarding the management of water in the future.
“Water defines Texas. It is our most vital natural resource. Its presence – or absence – has molded our state’s history and people. Often, it seems that Texas either is coping with too much water or too little. Recently, it has been too little; rainfall has been scarce for more than a year now in much of the state. Drought has returned to Texas….as it did in the 1950s. But was it ever very far away?” |
Dr. Votteler is President of Collaborative Water Resolution LLC, Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Water Journal and Texas+Water, and hosts the Talk+Water podcast.
He is a Fellow of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, and previously was Executive Manager of Science, Intergovernmental Relations, and Policy at the Guadalupe–Blanco River Authority, Chairman of the Guadalupe Basin Coalition, Executive Director of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, and Chairman of the Texas Land Trust Council. |
October Tour: "Canyon Lake Gorge"
WHAT: Guided 3-Hour Private CCCA Walking Tour of the Canyon Lake Gorge
WHEN: Saturday, October 22 & October 29, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, weather permitting
WHERE: Canyon Lake Gorge
CCCA sponsored a private tour of this incredible Texas Phenomenon
The 3 hour guided tour was a slow-paced walk through the Gorge, covering 1.25 miles with many stopping points for photos and educational information delivered by a trained guide (CCCA member Mike Poffenberger, retired geoscientist and Master Naturalist.)
The Canyon Lake Gorge was carved by the flood of 2002 when more than 67,000 cubic feet of water per second flowed over the Canyon Lake spillway, marking the first time the spillway was used since the dam was completed in 1964. The power of water-sliced open the ground below the spillway exposing the 110-million-year-old Cretaceous Glen Rose limestone and unearthing geologic wonders, including fossils, dinosaur footprints, exposed faults, aquifers, beautiful lagoons, breathtaking waterfalls, and dramatic vistas.
WHEN: Saturday, October 22 & October 29, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, weather permitting
WHERE: Canyon Lake Gorge
CCCA sponsored a private tour of this incredible Texas Phenomenon
The 3 hour guided tour was a slow-paced walk through the Gorge, covering 1.25 miles with many stopping points for photos and educational information delivered by a trained guide (CCCA member Mike Poffenberger, retired geoscientist and Master Naturalist.)
The Canyon Lake Gorge was carved by the flood of 2002 when more than 67,000 cubic feet of water per second flowed over the Canyon Lake spillway, marking the first time the spillway was used since the dam was completed in 1964. The power of water-sliced open the ground below the spillway exposing the 110-million-year-old Cretaceous Glen Rose limestone and unearthing geologic wonders, including fossils, dinosaur footprints, exposed faults, aquifers, beautiful lagoons, breathtaking waterfalls, and dramatic vistas.
October Outreach: "Trick or Treat at the Tracks"
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WHAT: Trick or Treat at the Tracks
WHEN: October 22, 5 PM – 7 PM
WHERE: Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country
Canyon Lake
CCCA brought its conservation message to the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country's "Trick or Treat at the Tracks" pre-Halloween event.
WHEN: October 22, 5 PM – 7 PM
WHERE: Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country
Canyon Lake
CCCA brought its conservation message to the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country's "Trick or Treat at the Tracks" pre-Halloween event.
October Outreach: “Monarch Festival”
WHAT: Monarch Fall Festival
WHEN: Sat, Oct 22 2022 at 11:00 AM to 02:00 PM
WHERE: Fischer Park
1935 Hill Top Summit Rd
New Braunfels
WHEN: Sat, Oct 22 2022 at 11:00 AM to 02:00 PM
WHERE: Fischer Park
1935 Hill Top Summit Rd
New Braunfels
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The New Braunfels Parks and Recreation team and community partners hosted a fall-themed day of games, crafts, exhibits, and activities to celebrate the state insect of Texas, the Monarch Butterfly! CCCA took advantage of the beautiful day to spread the word about the importance of preserving our land and natural resources in Comal County.
OFFICIAL TEXAS STATE INSECT
Texas designated the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as the official state insect in 1995.
Both the caterpillar and adult monarch butterfly are brilliant in color as a warning to predators (the monarch ingests toxins from the milkweed plant which are poisonous).
Seen soaring and gliding across the USA during the summer, monarchs make an incredible 2,500-mile migration each year to their nesting grounds in Mexico and southern California.
Monarch butterflies are threatened and being considered for protection under The U.S. Endangered Species Act (monarch populations have fallen by possibly 90 percent during the last two decades).
OFFICIAL TEXAS STATE INSECT
Texas designated the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as the official state insect in 1995.
Both the caterpillar and adult monarch butterfly are brilliant in color as a warning to predators (the monarch ingests toxins from the milkweed plant which are poisonous).
Seen soaring and gliding across the USA during the summer, monarchs make an incredible 2,500-mile migration each year to their nesting grounds in Mexico and southern California.
Monarch butterflies are threatened and being considered for protection under The U.S. Endangered Species Act (monarch populations have fallen by possibly 90 percent during the last two decades).
September Program: “Protecting Land to Protect Water”
Sharlene Leurig, CEO of Texas Water Trade
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On September 21, 2022, Sharlene Leurig, CEO of Texas Water Trade, spent the evening answering these questions. Where is the water? Above ground? Below ground? And how do we get to it? For the past decades, smart…and we mean really smart …Texans have been scientifically reviewing and planning how we maintain good groundwater now and tomorrow. Texas Water Trade personnel say: “We aim to build a future of clean, flowing water for all Texans.”
One such person is Sharlene Leurig, who is a water planning expert and the CEO of Texas Water Trade. As Sharlene has |
stated: “I think most people who we talk to are seeing, with the ongoing drought and the population boom here in Texas, that there is a need to shore up our water supply.”
The water supply is maximized when we collect as much as we can and then make the best use - and reuse – of it. The best way to recharge the aquifers is to keep the land above the recharge zone as open as possible. Stewardship of this land helps provide not only water but also clean air and open spaces, and supports local economies. Ms. Leurig focused on the important connection between land, aquifers and our water supply. An informative question and answer period followed. |
July Outreach: Farmers Market
July Program: “Water: The Next 20 Years”
Mark Hamilton is the Executive Director of Aquifer Management Services for the Edwards Aquifer Authority.
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On Tuesday, July 19, Mark Hamilton from the Edwards Aquifer Authority, made an excellent presentation to a group of almost 100 people about the issue of water over the next 20 years.
This is the HOT TOPIC for all of us who live in Comal County and South Central Texas! The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) is our regional groundwater agency that manages one of the world's most prolific artesian aquifers. The EAA regulates the portion of the Balcones Fault Zone Edwards Aquifer – a jurisdictional area that provides water to over 2 million people, and covers more than 8,000 square miles across eight counties. These include all of Uvalde, Medina, and Bexar counties as well as parts of Atascosa, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal, and Hays counties. In this presentation on "Water: The Next 20 Years," we learned about the amazing things our Edwards Aquifer Authority is doing to ensure we have water well into the future! For example, EAA created a water flow test site for larger acreages where berms were created and natural habitat planted to learn how these natural installations help reduce flooding. To date, the results have been very positive. The berms collect the flood water and allow it to permeate the soil while the roots of the natural habitat help to constrict the overflow of water. Mark and his staff are tasked with gathering important data from the over 8,000 square miles of the Edwards Aquifer. This information can be used |
in the future to make the case for legislative advancements to protect water in this important aquifer area.
Mark also spoke on the benefits of conservation easements as they apply to water. The natural landscape serves as an excellent tool to not only conserve water, but to help slow the flow during times of exceptional rainfall. The EAA also has a multi-faceted groundwater protection program which includes locating, identifying and assessing all Edwards wells, prioritizing a list of known abandoned wells and implementing the required action for reducing potential risks to groundwater quality. Initiatives designed to protect water quality in the area of the Recharge Zone include: Special handling and storage of regulated materials; assessing and monitoring conservation easements; improving the implementation and maintenance of rural and urban best management practices; and training first responders to reduce potential Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone (EARZ) impacts resulting from accidents and emergencies. Additionally, the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program (EAPP) and Edwards Aquifer State Resource Concern (EA SRC) programs also protect natural recharge quality and quantity. An informative question and answer period followed. |
May 14th CCCA Celebration Event: A Welcome, an Award, and a Birthday Party!
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On May 14, CCCA Board Members welcomed members of the CCCA Advisory Board and members of Jensie Madden’s family to an afternoon of reflection, appreciation, camaraderie, and light refreshments.
Gathering at the Tye Preston Memorial Library, attendees reflected on the progress made by CCCA over its first four years and looked at challenges and opportunities ahead. Members of the organization’s Advisory Board were thanked for their support and guidance, as were the officials, former Board Members, and volunteers who attended.
The highlight of the event was the announcement and presentation of CCCA’s first Comal Conservation Award, which was presented, posthumously, to Jensie Madden, one of CCCA’s founders and member of its Board of Directors for its first two years. Jensie’s son, Sean, accepted the award for his mother.
Gathering at the Tye Preston Memorial Library, attendees reflected on the progress made by CCCA over its first four years and looked at challenges and opportunities ahead. Members of the organization’s Advisory Board were thanked for their support and guidance, as were the officials, former Board Members, and volunteers who attended.
The highlight of the event was the announcement and presentation of CCCA’s first Comal Conservation Award, which was presented, posthumously, to Jensie Madden, one of CCCA’s founders and member of its Board of Directors for its first two years. Jensie’s son, Sean, accepted the award for his mother.
May Program: “Wanted! Mountain Cedars, Dead and Alive”
Elizabeth McGreevy, "The Cedar Lady."
Our sincere apologies to Ms McGreevy that we were unable to use the video of her presentation for our May Program. The video above is from the Native Plant Society — Austin Program on August 29, 2021.
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At our May program, Wanted! Mountain Cedars, Dead and Alive, natural resources planner and ecologist, Elizabeth McGreevy presented the story of Mountain Cedar trees that grow in the Texas Hill Country. Over the last 100 years, these trees have been characterized as non-native, water-hogging, grass-killing, toxic, useless species to justify their removal. The result has been a glut of Mountain Cedar tall tales and anti-cedar sentiments. Ms. McGreevy ambitiously researched the Mountain Cedar and presented another perspective of these trees, also known as Ashe Junipers or Blueberry Junipers. While digging into Texas Hill Country politics, history, economics, culture, and ecology for her book, Wanted! Mountain Cedars, Dead and Alive, McGreevy tracked down the origins of each tall tale to determine what is true, what is false, and what lies somewhere in between.
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She also explained why people respected Mountain Cedars before the 1900s, and what events led to the trees' downfall and the landscape we see today. Through a series of arguments, she served to replace anti-cedar sentiments with a more constructive, less emotional approach to Hill Country land management and a perspective that not all Mountain Cedars are bad, but rather key to restoring soils and protecting groundwater.
McGreevy, also known as “The Cedar Lady,” is a sixth-generation Texan, and has been featured on talk radio, television, and in magazines. |
WANTED! Mountain Cedars, Dead and Alive, by Elizabeth McGreevy
To get a copy of this acclaimed book, go to Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wanted-mountain-cedars-elizabeth-mcgreevy/1139347125
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April Outreach: Folk Fest
CCCA had our outreach booth at New Braunfels Folk Fest, where we shared information about the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
New Braunfels Folkfest is held in April at Heritage Village. New Braunfels Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage Festival sponsored by the Heritage Society of New Braunfels on the grounds of the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. Starting the second Saturday in October, Folkfest features living history re-enactments, pioneer craft demonstrations, free furniture museum tours, children’s activities, musical entertainment, and delicious food. All proceeds benefit the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture and their historic preservation projects.
New Braunfels Folkfest is held in April at Heritage Village. New Braunfels Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage Festival sponsored by the Heritage Society of New Braunfels on the grounds of the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. Starting the second Saturday in October, Folkfest features living history re-enactments, pioneer craft demonstrations, free furniture museum tours, children’s activities, musical entertainment, and delicious food. All proceeds benefit the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture and their historic preservation projects.
April Outreach: Farmers Market, New Braunfels, TX
CCCA had our outreach booth at the New Braunfels Farmers Market, where we shared information about the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
The Farmers Market is a weekly community event held at 186 S. Castell Ave. New Braunfels, TX, next to Krause's Cafe. The market is held Saturday, from 9:00 to 1:00pm and hosts local vendors with a variety of goods to offer. Meet neighbors from all over Comal County as you stroll through the aisles and shop for everything from baked goods, to locally made honey, and to pet necessities such as leashes and toys. And amid the booths, the live music, and the libations, you will find outreach committee volunteers demonstrating the action of the Edwards Aquifer, the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
The Farmers Market is a weekly community event held at 186 S. Castell Ave. New Braunfels, TX, next to Krause's Cafe. The market is held Saturday, from 9:00 to 1:00pm and hosts local vendors with a variety of goods to offer. Meet neighbors from all over Comal County as you stroll through the aisles and shop for everything from baked goods, to locally made honey, and to pet necessities such as leashes and toys. And amid the booths, the live music, and the libations, you will find outreach committee volunteers demonstrating the action of the Edwards Aquifer, the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
April Outreach: Earth Day
CCCA participated in Earth Day, setting up our outreach information table with what to do to preserve our natural environment and our water. It was a free event for the entire community to celebrate our local natural resources. People were able to explore native prairie restoration, stroll along the spring run and see where the Comal River begins, participate in hands-on activities and scavenger hunts, and enjoy some time getting connected with nature. They also had take-home kits and plant giveaways, so Earth Day could be celebrated all year long in our backyard.
March Outreach: “Dinosaur Day” at The Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country
CCCA had our outreach booth at the Heritage Museum Dinosauar Days, where we shared information about the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
Heritage Museum and Dinosaur Tracks has displays on: Native American Artifacts, Early Pioneers including Farm Machinery, the Canyon Dam History, Fossils, Gift Shop, open-air picnic area, and the Heritage Garden Trail of native Texas plants. Home to over 300 dinosaur tracks.
Heritage Museum and Dinosaur Tracks has displays on: Native American Artifacts, Early Pioneers including Farm Machinery, the Canyon Dam History, Fossils, Gift Shop, open-air picnic area, and the Heritage Garden Trail of native Texas plants. Home to over 300 dinosaur tracks.
March Program: “ONE WATER in Comal County”
Jennifer Walker, Deputy Director, Texas Coast and Water Program, at the National Wildlife Federation
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If you like, use, or drink water, this presentation is for you! Comal County is a land of refreshing springs, clear rivers, and magnificent aquifers! One Water is a way to make the best possible use of this amazing resource and ensure fresh water will always be available — for people, wildlife and yes, most definitely for a prosperous Texas economy.
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Jennifer Walker joined us to discuss the One Water concept, and how it can help us meet our county’s future water needs by changing how we use and reuse the water we have.
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March Outreach: 25th Annual Fun Fish
Sponsored by Water-Oriented Recreation District of Comal County (WORD)
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CCCA loved attending the 25th Annual Fun Fish 2022. It gave us an excellent opportunity to teach kids the importance of conservation. Our popular "Enviroscape" lets kids build a community and learn what
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enviromental factors impact the community they built. We also give them DIY waterscopes so they can get a closer look at what's deep in the water. We always have a great time at this event.
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March Outreach: Lunch and Learn
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Comal County Conservation Alliance held its second “Lunch and Learn” event for this year on June 20th. The fourteen participants enjoyed a light meal, followed by presentations given by the CCCA Board Members. Topics included the history and mission of CCCA, the organization make-up, and the many volunteer opportunities available. The co-chairpersons of the CCCA Government Affairs committee presented the current focus of that committee and discussed how all
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participants can help spread the CCCA message among county officials and city leaders. And, the participants enjoyed the demonstrations of the activities typically conducted at the outreach tables at CCCA booths at various events around the county. Everyone particularly enjoyed the “Enviroscape” that provides a mini version of Comal County and the environment.
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January Program: “Floods, Carbon, Climate — Oh My!”
Deborah “Debbie” Reid, Technical Director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance
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Program Video Part 1
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Program Video Part 2
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Ever wonder what we can do about flooding, carbon in the air, and climate? On January 11, Debbie Reid, Technical Director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA), talked about how conserving land in a watershed can reduce downstream flooding and capture carbon from the atmosphere, thus helping avert the worst consequences of climate change.
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Healthy soils in parks, open spaces, and undisturbed natural areas can hold vast amounts of water and capture a remarkable amount of atmospheric carbon — just two of the many public benefits of keeping land in its healthy natural state. And we can do it right here!
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