A Comal County ranch owner ponders selling his land, setting off another clash between property rights and environmental concerns



A cow and a calf walk on farmland near the Harrison property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Doug Harrison’s application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land in Comal County stirred controversy as residents have raised environmental concerns.

People float down the Comal River on tubes in New Braunfels on June 16, 2023. Kristopher Bolstad, owner of Comal River tubing outfitter Comal Tubing is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

People float down the Comal River on tubes in New Braunfels on June 16, 2023. Kristopher Bolstad, owner of Comal River tubing outfitter Comal Tubing is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

A new subdivision is under construction in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde, on June 15, 2023. Doug Harrison’s application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land in Comal County stirred controversy as residents have raised environmental concerns.

A new subdivision is under construction in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde, on June 15, 2023. Doug Harrison’s application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land in Comal County stirred controversy as residents have raised environmental concerns.

Battling to keep development at bay

Milann Guckian, president and founder of Preserve Our Hill Country Environment, stands on her property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 16, 2023. Guckian, who has owned her property since 1996, is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land. “Everybody wants to be here, but you can do it responsibly.” Guckian said. “If we don’t pump the brakes now, we won’t have a blade of grass 25 years from now.”

Milann Guckian, president and founder of Preserve Our Hill Country Environment, stands on her property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 16, 2023. Guckian, who has owned her property since 1996, is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land. “Everybody wants to be here, but you can do it responsibly.” Guckian said. “If we don’t pump the brakes now, we won’t have a blade of grass 25 years from now.”

Horses graze on Doug Harrison’s property in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde, on June 16, 2023. Harrison’s application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land in Comal County stirred controversy as residents have raised environmental concerns.

Horses graze on Doug Harrison’s property in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde, on June 16, 2023. Harrison’s application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land in Comal County stirred controversy as residents have raised environmental concerns.

Mounting concerns about the Edwards Aquifer

Brandon Kuhn, local cave explorer, walks along caves near the Harrison property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Kuhn is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

Brandon Kuhn, local cave explorer, walks along caves near the Harrison property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Kuhn is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

First: Thousands of daddy longlegs crawl on the roof of a cave near the Harrison property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Second: Brandon Kuhn, local cave explorer, walks along caves near the Harrison property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Kuhn is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

First: Thousands of daddy longlegs crawl on the roof of a cave near the Harrison property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Second: Brandon Kuhn, local cave explorer, walks along caves near the Harrison property in Comal County about halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Kuhn is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

Annalisa Peace, Executive Director at the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, stands among maps and workspaces at the nonprofit’s headquarters in San Antonio on June 14, 2023. “The Edwards is one of the most prolific water systems in the world,” Peace said. While Peace says the Edwards is a bounteous resource, it’s also “incredibly vulnerable to pollution.”

Annalisa Peace, Executive Director at the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, stands among maps and workspaces at the nonprofit’s headquarters in San Antonio on June 14, 2023. “The Edwards is one of the most prolific water systems in the world,” Peace said. While Peace says the Edwards is a bounteous resource, it’s also “incredibly vulnerable to pollution.”

Annalisa Peace, Executive Director at Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, discusses concerns of impervious cover and downstream flooding while pointing at a Greater Edwards Aquifer map displayed at the nonprofit’s headquarters in San Antonio on June 14, 2023. “The Edwards is one of the most prolific water systems in the world,” Peace said. While Peace says the Edwards is a bounteous resource, it’s also “incredibly vulnerable to pollution.”

Annalisa Peace, Executive Director at Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, discusses concerns of impervious cover and downstream flooding while pointing at a Greater Edwards Aquifer map displayed at the nonprofit’s headquarters in San Antonio on June 14, 2023. “The Edwards is one of the most prolific water systems in the world,” Peace said. While Peace says the Edwards is a bounteous resource, it’s also “incredibly vulnerable to pollution.”

Erin Bell, owner of Big Heart Ranch and a horse dressage company along Doug Harrison’s property, unlocks a gate on her property with her horses, Posey, left, and Joy, right, in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Bell is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

Erin Bell, owner of Big Heart Ranch and a horse dressage company along Doug Harrison’s property, unlocks a gate on her property with her horses, Posey, left, and Joy, right, in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Bell is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

First: Erin Bell, owner of Big Heart Ranch and a horse dressage company along Doug Harrison’s property, explores a cave that sits on her land in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Bell is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land. Second:James, Bell, 2, runs across the backyard with a dead katydid in hand as Erin Bell, owner of Big Heart Ranch and a horse dressage company along Doug Harrison’s property, and her dog, Lacey, 8, watch, in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Bell is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

First: Erin Bell, owner of Big Heart Ranch and a horse dressage company along Doug Harrison’s property, explores a cave that sits on her land in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Bell is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land. Second:James, Bell, 2, runs across the backyard with a dead katydid in hand as Erin Bell, owner of Big Heart Ranch and a horse dressage company along Doug Harrison’s property, and her dog, Lacey, 8, watch, in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde on June 15, 2023. Bell is among the residents who raised environmental concerns after Doug Harrison submitted an application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land.

“A lot of people want to live here”

A barbed wire fence in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde, on June 15, 2023. Doug Harrison’s application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land in Comal County stirred controversy as residents have raised environmental concerns.

A barbed wire fence in Comal County nearly halfway between New Braunfels and Bulverde, on June 15, 2023. Doug Harrison’s application for a wastewater treatment plant on his 500-plus-acre plot of land in Comal County stirred controversy as residents have raised environmental concerns.



Correction, July 13, 2023 at 2:53 p.m.:

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that a 3rd Court of Appeals ruling allowed the Vulcan quarry to begin operations. The ruling allows the TCEQ to issue the company an air quality permit, but other permits are required before the quarry can operate.



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