Texas Water Project
Exploring Landa’s Waters
Landa Park in New Braunfels, Texas
Amris Gallegos, October 2023

                          







 

    Landa Park is a historically significant riverside park located in New Braunfels, TX. Occupied since time immemorial by  indigenous  people like the Tonkawa, this park houses Comal Springs, where water filters to the surface through the Edwards Aquifer.  The Comal Springs also acts as a warning signal for the Edwards Aquifer. If the volume of the Comal Springs declines, the Edwards Aquifer is being over pumped, and the water that is lost cannot be restored. 
   Landa Park was purchased by Joseph Landa, whose son, Harry Landa, created one of the most favored sites in the area. Harry Landa transformed the park into its first attraction, calling it Camp Placid.
    The highlight of Camp Placid was the Spring-fed pool, a result of a diverted portion of the Springs that was dammed off in order to power factories such as gristmills, cotton and woolen factories, an ice plant, and even a brewery over the years.




Google/Landa Park Aquatic Complex








    The only concern Harry had was the amount of grass that would cut loose and clog up the water wheels. When asking for advice, he was told that ducks would solve the problem because they keep the waters clear of water grass. Harry Landa would then have ducks imported from Long Island, yet after he saw that they were polluting his waters, he got rid of them all. Despite this, many ducks do reside here today. 


                                                                                                                          









                                                                     



   The Comal Springs are under constant supervision by conservationists in order to protect the vital and fragile ecology. When viewing the water at some locations, tarps are visible lining the river floor. This is something they use to get rid of invasive plant species. They cover them, and when they die, they collect it all and re-plant beneficial plants for the environment.



    








    Landa Park has been affected heavily by the drought that has blanketed Central Texas and much of the Southwest this past year. Water levels are some of the lowest they’ve ever been. The most recent measurement of the water’s discharge at cubic feet per second has dropped to 67.1, when just days ago it was averaging about 80 cubic feet per second. The drought not only brings danger to the wildlife that lives in the park, including the endangered species of Comal Springs, but also to human interaction with the park. Along with the boating docks and swimming pools being closed early, the famous wading pool created for children and a friendlier pool for disabled access has been closed. Many busy weekends you have seen at the park have now gone quiet. Landa Park is just not getting enough constant water flow to help keep these areas safely open, let alone enjoyable.



 

 


   


(Above) A photo displaying an environmentally sensitive area that used to be filled with water from the springs, ironically displaying a sign that swimming and wading are not allowed here.


               
(Left) An archival image from Landa Park taken from the book New Braunfels Historic Landa Park, Its Springs and Its People by Rosemarie Gregory and Arlene Seales.
(Right) A recent image of the water conditions of the (now) shut down wading pool.


    
    An important factor about Landa Park is that it is the home to a variety of endangered species that require this aquatic ecosystem that contains clean flowing water to survive. These species are protected under law by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. When speaking with Amy Niles from Rivers and Water Management at Landa Park, she states that these species are still active but continue to be endangered and this drought does play a role in the dangerously low counts of them.








    Another problem that the drought has created for Landa Park is algae. Algae can be a result of a number of things, most of the time it isn’t good. The low water levels in Landa Park mean poor water circulation, low water circulation results in poor water filtration throughout the park, causing heat from the sun to produce algae almost everywhere. 


Drag and Play with Algae images taken at Landa Park:



     
  

    We seem to be kicking Landa when it’s already down. I photographed this park over the span of 2-3 weeks, and I discovered that trash left there was not being picked up. After making my photographs every trip, I picked up what I could, but the next trip back it seemed that trash would just keep piling up. Even though the waters are low and not many people seem to visit the park anymore, I question the people that do visit why discarding their trash on the ground and in the waters would be a good idea. The trash laying around this park is very noticeable, so it’s hard to think it could be an accident. The Comal Springs is a very treasured environment, and it’s important to protect it so harmful things don’t have the chance to contaminate it. It’s important to do this with every and all environments.

                 
                                 

 

                                



Pretty Sad Right? 
Here are some steps you can take to help prevent the harmful invasion of pollution:

- Pick up after yourself and/or others.

- Make sure to pick up any pet waste.

- Avoid feeding ducks/wildlife in the area. Feeding of wildlife can result in concentrated populations which can increase bacteria content.

- Get in touch with organizations around the area that are focused on helping the environment. Some examples include:

The New Braunfels Parks Foundation, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to New Braunfels and its parks.
The Comal County Recycling and Chipping Center, programs that help recycling around the area.

Friends for the Preservation of Historic Landa Park, a non-profit organization that strives in restoring Landa Park as well as advocating for the protection of it.

New Braunfels Community Foundation, a site where you have the opportunity to donate for the helping of conservation and preservation in the area.