“There are two rivers here in New Braunfels, the Comal River and the Guadalupe River. When we talk about endangered species protections and other environmental matters, we’re mainly focused on the Comal,” said Amy Niles, River and Watershed Manager for the City of New Braunfels. “In a way, we are fortunate to be able to separate our endangered species protection efforts to restrictions for Landa Lake which is fed by more than 400 Edwards Aquifer spring openings there. Swimming in the lake is prohibited and only a few paddle boats are allowed on the lake. Public access for tubing and swimming is along the New Channel of the Comal River, below Landa Park. So, the majority of our environmental protection work is in Landa Park which is where the Comal Springs are, and recreation happens about a half mile downstream.”

​

“City ordinances that provide for controlled access to Landa Lake, the spring runs, and the Old Channel of the Comal River are perhaps the best means we have of protecting the endangered species and their habitats,” said Phillip Quast, the City of New Braunfels Watershed Supervisor and Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Program (EAHCP) lead for the City. “Keeping swimmers out of Landa Lake prevents people from trampling the lake bottom where prime endangered species habitat is located. Prohibiting contact recreation in the lake helps to reduce water quality pollution and protects the endangered species.”

 

Quast also described a major effort by the City and EAHCP team to manage the riparian areas around the lake and upper portions of the Comal River. Over the past decade, the majority of non-native vegetation has been removed and replaced with native vegetation. Wildlife that lives on the land and in the water benefit from the removal of the invasive species. The invasive plant species that have been removed tend to displace the native species and compete the resources the endangered species rely on. This program has successfully progressed to a point of what Quast termed a monthly maintenance type of task.

​

“One other major success story people need to be aware of is the work to limit foot traffic near Spring Run Three in Landa Park and an effort to make the parking lots around Landa Park more environmentally friendly,” Quast noted. “In the past, parking lots near Landa would essentially carry unfiltered stormwater runoff into the lake and river. So, over the past several years, the EAHCP has been collaborating with the City to install natural and manmade type filtering and drainage systems for those lots. And those upgrades have been a critical component in allowing us to keep harmful chemicals and other contaminants out of Landa Lake and the Comal River.” 

 

Quast also described an EAHCP-funded project in Landa Park designed to not only keep visitors from trampling the vegetation near Spring Run Three, but to enhance the beauty in the park as well. The project improved a 430-foot long and five- to 10-foot wide buffer along the banks of Spring Run Three. Overall, 572 plants consisting of 11 varieties were installed on the visitor side of the stream. The selected plants were drought and deer tolerant as well as the types that would be found in a native riparian environment. Traditional landscape design techniques were mostly used with the buffer installation, but there were stone-paved gaps created so visitors could get close to the water but with little to no impact on the quality of the water.

 

“Controlling access to the Comal River where water recreation takes place is also a water quality strategy the City of New Braunfels uses,” Niles commented. “At Hinman Island Park, we maintain a primary river entry point, and 70 percent of annual visitors will enter the river there. Some of the 12 Comal River tubing outfitters upstream of the City’s access point also have sanctioned places for tubers to hop in the river.

 

“In addition to funneling visitors into limited access points to keep vegetation along the river banks growing and filtering runoff, we also limit items people can bring to the river to prevent litter pollution. There are City employees around river entry points and the Tube Chute to help educate users about the disposable container ban, preventing litter from entering the Comal River in the first place. The City also has a strong focus on water safety by providing life jackets that are free for the public to use.”

​

One key element to the overall success at balancing recreational and environmental needs that both Niles and Quast emphasized was “collaboration.” Partners such as Texas Parks and Wildlife, Edwards Aquifer Authority, City of San Marcos, Texas State University in San Marcos, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, New Braunfels Utilities and some private companies like the popular water park, Schlitterbahn and local river outfitters were all acknowledged as critical to the overall success of helping the City of New Braunfels meet their recreation management goals.

 

“The City of New Braunfels is very proud and protective of Landa Lake, Landa Park and our river recreation areas and so we’re keenly focused on keeping that spring water clean after it flows from the Edwards Aquifer and into the lake and then downstream in the Comal River,” Niles concluded. “We love having visitors in New Braunfels and our city thrives on tourism. But, we are equally invested in protecting our natural resources and making sure they are enjoyed in decades to come.”

 

Recreation on the Comal River Done Well

​

Here are some simple tips for enjoying the Comal River.

 

• River Outfitters typically have on-site parking at no charge AND they provide shuttle service to and from the river. Contact the outfitter of your choice for more information. Residents of New Braunfels are eligible for a free Resident River Parking Permit, among other resident-only benefits: www.newbraunfels.gov/river

• No Disposable Containers: This includes plastic bottles, aluminum cans, zip-top bags, glass bottles, Styrofoam cups or coolers, cardboard boxes, food wrappers, etc.

• No containers under 5 fluid ounces (including containers for Jello shots)

• Noise devices (radios, boom boxes, speakers, etc.) may not be audible beyond 50 feet

• No jumping from bridges or overpasses

• Only 1 cooler per person, limit of two tubes per person

• Coolers can be no bigger than 30 quarts and must have a locking or latch mechanism

• Tubes or other floatation devices cannot exceed 5 feet (60 inches) in length, width, or diameter; most double tubes are over 5 feet and are not allowed

• Canoes and kayaks cannot be over 18 feet (216 inches) in length and may not use the Last Tubers Exit on weekends and holidays