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Commissioner Kevin Webb – Comal County, Precinct 3

You know, I learned how to swim right down here in Landa Park and right by the Comal Springs. You know, New Braunfels is here because of Comal Springs. And so when I think what it means to me–it's home. And it's one of those kind of places where people come here and visit once and immediately start trying to figure out how to move here.

New Braunfels is built around the confluence of these two rivers and Comal Springs. We use this water for everything that we do. It's our primary water source for drinking. So, it's the basis of everything we do here. It is the beating heart of Comal County.

This water behind us wasn't like this a few months ago. And this is the direct response to recharge in the aquifers. The springs start to run. So every time it rains, if you don't have open space and areas for water to percolate down into the aquifers, it runs off into our rivers. And so, not only do we have pollution problems with that kind of runoff, but if we don't have these areas, the aquifers won't recharge. And so, our groundwater suffers. Our surface water, for a little while, rises, but our groundwater doesn't.

Kyleigh Dixon – Application Reviewer Engineering Specialist, Texas Water Development Board

The County is requesting funding for acquisition funds, so they are wanting to purchase tracts of land. The goal of the project is to protect the quantity and quality of their groundwater and surface water within Comal County.

Commissioner Kevin Webb – Comal County, Precinct 3

Right now, we're developing a matrix to identify these properties that are really good recharge candidates. And so, those would be properties that have sinkholes, caves, karst formations, the sort of limestone formations that allow for the recharge to pass through them and be filtered at the same time. We're working to identify areas that will be good candidates for these projects.

You know, we're really grateful for our partnership with the state and the Water Development Board. It's because of them that all this is going to be possible.

Kyleigh Dixon – Application Reviewer Engineering Specialist, Texas Water Development Board

Comal County is definitely using these funds in a unique way. Usually, you'll see these funds used for infrastructure projects. But since they are using it for a non-point source, it's definitely a great way for them to protect their land. Comal County will be using these funds to treat the pollutants at the source and protect their precious resources that they have.

Commissioner Kevin Webb – Comal County, Precinct 3 

So, it's about $4.5 million of a grant forgiveness. And then about a $25 million subsidized loan. So, we're really excited about putting it all together and going out and starting to acquire these properties. 

Kyleigh Dixon – Application Reviewer Engineering Specialist, Texas Water Development Board

So, I'm very passionate about providing clean water for everybody. And at the Board, that's what we do.

Commissioner Kevin Webb – Comal County, Precinct 3

You know, I’ve worked on a lot of projects, a lot of big projects, especially in the transportation world. I haven't had one that means more to me than this one. Our water here is why people settled here in the first place. And so, I haven't had a more meaningful project that I've worked on here.