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Conservation Insider - May 2025
Hello {{Constituent First Name}},
Summer is nearly here and I know I speak for everyone when I say that we are so grateful for the recent rains! This month was full of productivity and reflection. We kicked off May with our Line Up Release Party at Guadalupe Brewing Company. Lots of folks attended and picked up their new Comal Conservation Merch. We also got to celebrate with our friends from the Downtown Rotary Club of New Braunfels. Comal Conservation recently received a grant from the club in support of our Landowners Appreciation Program which will connect Comal County Landowners with reputable land trusts and with grant programs that support their management objectives.
We also had a fantastic Community Program featuring Garrett Melchor from ASA properties who presented on the Veramendi Development. He spoke about their low impact development techniques and the benefits that occur when developers and conservation organizations work together. If you didn't get a chance to join the program in person you can check out the recording on our YouTube Channel.
I am also proud to announce that our team grew this month. We recently hired Jaxon Caufield, a New Braunfels Native, as our Conservation and Outreach Intern for the Summer of 2025. Jaxon is going to make a wonderful addition to our crew and has already increased our capacity as an organization.
June is going to be chock full of activities including our Comal Conservation Social on June 26th at the Villa at Gruene and our deadline for the Jensie Madden Conservation Award is around the corner so don't forget to submit those applications.
Last weekend Katie and I went up to Fort Worth to celebrate Memorial Day with family. In particular we went to meet our newest nephew Malcom Spencer (7mths) for the very first time.
Malcom spent most of the weekend swimming with his parents and playing with his aunt and uncle in the outdoors. In between feedings, diaper changes, and me awkwardly learning how to hold a baby I was struck with just how much fun he was having and gained a better appreciation for why we engage in our work.
Malcom, his mom, Kelsey, and his First Cowboy Hat.
Every month nearly 1,000 people move to Comal County. They move here because of its relative safety, the natural beauty, and the economy, but more importantly because they want to start families, build businesses, and create a better life for themselves. Our aim is not to just to preserve the natural systems that make our county so wonderful it is to preserve the quality of life that those natural systems create. We do this by bringing people together, developing common sense solutions, and committing ourselves to a brighter future. As a newly minted uncle, I am filled with purpose and passion for this work and I am grateful for everything that each of you do to preserve land, water, and wildlife here in Comal County.
Now more than ever the natural systems of Comal County need your support. You can make a difference today. Consider volunteering, make a donation, speak up about the environmental issues you care about and explore the wonderful natural resources Comal County has to offer. Thank you for everything you do. I am grateful
Ryan Spencer Executive Director
Join the Comal Conservation Champions Today! By supporting Comal Conservation monthly, you provide sustaining revenue that helps us focus on conservation impact in Comal County.
Our easy peel stickers are available, for a donation, at our events and in the office. Online store coming soon. Stay tuned!
COMAL CONSERVATION EVENTS
Volunteers Needed! Help Preserve Land, Water, and Wildlife Today!
Comal Conservation is a grassroots volunteer driven nonprofit and we need your help now more than ever. If you're interested in supporting our community programs, spreading the word during outreach events, helping to update our website, or keeping up with our social media accounts we would love your help. Learn more about our work at www.comalconservation.org and sign up to be a volunteer below:
Comal Conservation Presents: Building Right in the Hill Country was hosted on May 20th, 2025, at the McKenna Center. We appreciate everyone who came out, in person and online. Garrett Melcher representing ASA Properties discussed the Veramendi development and implementing Low Impact Development Techniques and the mindset required for Conservation Development. Q&A included.
Submit your Jensie Madden Conservation Award Applications Today!
Joyce Moore and Cynthia Martinez - 2023
Each year we honor conservation heroes in our community. If you know someone who you believe is a good fit for this award please submit their nomination before the end of June. Learn more about the award and its criteria here.
We are so excited to announce Comal Conservation's newest addition to the team. Jaxon Caufield is an undergraduate Wildlife Biology student at the University of Montana, but spends his summers in New Braunfels where he was raised. He has spent his youth studying the plants and animals and is looking forward to protecting them in his new role!
Keep your eyes on our social media as Jaxon rolls out his new Instagram series, 'Keeping It Wild in Comal County.' Let us be reminded why the Hill Country is worth all of our efforts.
WELCOME JAXON!!!
Water makes a remarkable difference
By Frank Dietz (Comal Conservation Board Member)
Photo by Mia Bailey
First, let me salute our local Herald-Zeitung journalists for a fine week of emphasis on the impacts of our severe drought and the increasing need for responsible water usage. The daily front page reporting has been timely and practical. Readers and their families have been made aware of what is happening along with some excellent suggestions for positive water usage.
On the day of this writing, the 25 of April, 2025, I took my regular morning walk from our yard to the roadside to place some recycling and trash while retrieving morning papers. Along the pathway through a wooded section, a herd of cattle was in the pasture that surrounds our yard. I noticed among the grazers both in the open areas and beneath the trees a large cow lying down. While I proceeded on to soon return, I discovered the delivery of a newborn calf had taken place. The calf wobbled then steadied to make contact for first new nourishment from its mom. That’s always a holy moment when all goes well.
Edwards Aquifer under Stage 5 restrictions for the first time in history
By Herald-Zeitung
The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) has triggered Stage 5 drought restrictions for groundwater permit holders in its San Antonio Pool for the first time ever.
Effective Friday, May 23, the EAA activated the new restrictions, which affects Comal and Guadalupe counties in addition to Medina, Bexar, Atascosa, Hays and Caldwell counties.
Declining aquifer conditions have left the 10-day average of the J-17 index well 624.7 mean feet above sea level, which is within the Stage 5 threshold. The 10-day average of Comal Springs is 53 cubic feet per second, while the 10-day average of San Marcos Springs is 86 cubic feet per second.
Sprawl stopper: Heart of Texas Conservancy joins other land trusts to protect Hill Country PARTNER SPOTLIGHT ON KSAT NEWS
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Beginning on Monday, June 2nd, the Rain Bees are hosting a free 14-week series of classes from 12:00 to 1:30pm every Monday at Bulverde's Mammen Family Library. To register for the classes, go to the Mammen Family Library website.
Members of the San Antonio Astronomical Association and park staff will be on site with their telescopes to point out the moon, constellations, planets and more. Drop-in any time between 8:00pm and 10:00pm!
*The time will shift throughout the year*
All ages are welcome!
Where: Guadalupe State Park
This event will be held in the large overflow parking lot (just up the road from the big river parking lot). Look for the big blue "Stargazing Tonight" sign on the park road just across from this parking lot.
Cost: Free with park admission; Adults: $7, Children 12 & under: Free
2025 Outreach Events (Tentative):
Dino Day (Heritage Museum event) – March 29rd (12:00 – 4:00) – FM 1863, Sattler
AgriLife Open House and Resource Fair – April 5th (9:00 - 1:00) – AgriLife Extension Office, Resource Dr., off Hwy 46
Earth Day & Arbor Day (Combined event) – April 12nd (9:00 - 2:00) – Landa Park, NB
NBTX Pride Festival (Riverside Pride event) – Oct 2025
Comal County Fair School Days – September 24th and 25th (8:00 - 1:30) – Fairgrounds, NB
Fisher Park Monarch Festival – October 25th (11:00 – 5:00) – Fisher Park, N
NB Farmers Market – various Saturdays, when invited (9:00 – 1:00) – downtown NB
Other outreach activities open to volunteers: Pollinator Fiesta – March 15th (10:00 – 2:00) – Guadalupe River State Park, Spring Branch
Sweaty Yeti Run/Walk – April 12th (8:00 – 11:00am) – Landa Park (Panther Canyon) NB
Land and Sky Celebration - May 3rd (5:00pm – 11:00pm) - Dot’s Spots Campground at 5080 Purgatory Rd. New Braunfels (limited VH credit)
Comal County Fair Parade Float (Decorating Team) – September 26th (7:00-9:30) - downtown New Braunfels (no VH credit)
Working to preserve land, water, and wildlife in Comal County!
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