About Us
New Braunfels Utilities & Headwaters at the Comal
The Headwaters at the Comal is New Braunfels Utilities’ (NBU) Conservation legacy project. This remarkable 16-acre site is the original source for the community of New Braunfels, has been visited by indigenous ancestors for 500 generations or more, and still holds an important working water plant providing Edwards Aquifer water to the community.
In 2012, NBU hosted stakeholder engagement workshops to devise a higher and better purpose for the portion of the site that remained a retired warehouse, fleet and facilities property. An incredible vision to create a premier education center honoring the significance of the property was created.
In 2017, NBU founded the Headwaters at the Comal non-profit to partner with them on the implementation of this master plan vision. Together we are working to inspire a deep apprecation for the land, water and cultural history that make this region so special.
Our Mission
Strengthening the relationship between the community and nature by showcasing the significance of the Comal Springs. Creating a premier education center inspiring hearts and minds on the importance of conservation to community.
EDUCATE & DEmostrate
Inspire lifelong practice of enjoying, protecting and stewarding cultural and ecological resources in those that live in, visit, and make decisions about Texas Hill Country natural resources.
Protect & Conserve
Ensure protection and conservation of the Comal Springs/Comal River system, including the headwaters and the endangered species it supports, in perpetuity.
Create
Community
Provide an innovative, nature-oriented gathering and meeting space that builds a regional ethic of valuing cultural and ecological resources.
Partner in Research
Conduct research that: allows for exploration and discovery of this “new” site; connects New Braunfels with regional science and social science; and identifies and demonstrates solutions to real world problems.
Vision
Our vision is to create a premier education center inspiring hearts and minds on the importance of conservation to our community.
Once our restoration efforts are complete all most all of the asphalt and impervious cover will be removed and the area transformed into thriving native prairie and riparian habitats. The result? Cleaner water, more biodiversity, and a living example of what community-led conservation can achieve.
The Headwaters today is both a refuge and a classroom—a place to walk, learn, and witness firsthand how nature thrives when given the chance. Each step you take here connects back to our purpose: to protect the source, so that the Comal River and all it sustains continue to flow strong for generations to come.
Our work has already led to:
94% reduction in pollutants reaching the Comal Springs system.
Removal of 95% of impervious cover, allowing water to filter naturally
Restoration of historic spring features and habitats for endangered species.
Hundreds of native plants and trees reestablished, bringing life back to the landscape.
Reuse and renewal—turning old structures into permeable paths and open-air learning spaces.
