Hill Country Alliance: Water Program Updates – June 2023
Last week, HCA had the opportunity to go on a site tour of the Headwaters at the Comal. The former New Braunfels water utility headquarters, with its huge asphalt parking lots and sprawling facilities, was once a major source of pollution into the Comal River – especially during big storm events. Now, thanks to a New Braunfels Utility initiative, the site is being redeveloped into a learning and community center. Iconic springs have been uncapped. Asphalt has been ripped out and replaced with native landscaping to serve as natural stormwater infrastructure. A new building in-the-works will collect rainwater for non-potable uses and blackwater will be recycled in a closed loop system for toilet flushing.
With all of the development happening in the Hill Country, it’s nice to be reminded that where there’s a will for water-friendly development, there’s a way.
Local Updates:
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- Last month, the Headwaters GCD in Kerr County voted to increase minimum lot sizes for new registered wells to 10 acres. Landowners who attended the meeting thanked the GCD for recognizing declining aquifer levels in the county and putting in place more protective rules.
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- TCEQ will hold a public meeting Thursday, June 8, on the proposed Harrison Tract wastewater discharge permit in Spring Branch, Comal County. If the permit is granted, the new wastewater treatment plant would discharge 600,000 gallons of treated sewage—every day—into the West Fork Dry Comal Creek and Dry Comal Creek. Preserve our Hill Country Environment, Save Our Hill Country, and GEAA are organizing comments in opposition to the discharge permit.
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- A notice was posted June 2 for a new impoundment on the North Fork of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. Texas Parks and Wildlife is accepting comments through June. To view the public notice, click here: Notice of Application for a Sand and Gravel Permit in the North Fork of the Guadalupe, Kerr County
