Let Us Shine: August 2013

Sing and Share ideas about Comal Springflows
From Cheryl Gilpin seacheyl@gmail.com

To community of New Braunfels, Texas.

I wrote some Lyrics about Comal Springs to melodies sung by Arlo Guthrie and by Raffi. (http://www.artistdirect.com/video/raffi-evergreen-everblue/50879#PyusO1m8Igd5xgUd.01) These are for my community to rally love and stewardship for Comal Springflows.

Please pass on these lyrics to all your organizations and churches, and to friends in other organizations. Sing this at your next gatherings, make a video recording and send a link to me for me to compile with others. My email is seacheyl at gmail dot com.

Also please email me your ideas and suggestions, I really hope to get lots of positive suggestions to share about water conservation and improvements to land and water use practices (gardeners too) and large and small scale rainwater harvesting and systems of non sewage water reuse . I will make a website and share these. Our Comal main spring doesn’t have to keep looking like it did in 1956, this is even worse for our aquifer today. Edwards aquifer levels are dropping at a unusually very extreme rate. Massive take of endangered species are occurring but agencies are looking the other way as if this is what was planned and as if this is acceptable. Still, inspite of state legislature mandate, there is no aquifer agency level requirement by the aquifer critical period management for permitted pumpers to reduce pumping during the time of critical period.

Song 1

These Springs are your Springs

Lyrics copyright by Little Miss Biosphere, Cheryl Gilpin

(melody: “This land is your land”)

These springs are your springs,

these springs are my springs,

From the high plateau (highland hills),

To the coastal wetlands.

From the Edwards Aquifer,

To the Aransas Refuge,

Comal Springs* were made for you and me. *(Other names of hill country springs and their features can be substituted)

On the Balcones Cliff,

I stood in wonder,

At the rush of water,

and the constant cooling.

And way down under,

I heard a whisper,

Comal Springs were made for you and me.

Springfish are darting,

Amphipods swim sideways,

Water Pennies hang tightly,

In the riffle pools.

In a climate of drought

Cool water keeps flowing
When its healthy for springlife
its healthy for people.

Comal Springs were made for you and me.

When it comes to pumping

I tell you what (2 syllables) wha…at

It really sucks I tell you why (a tempo)

Laws protect pumpers

that suck our springs dry

Comal Springs were made for you and me.

I f you wanna protect springs

Now you must speak up.

Before the water hogs

suck it all up

Cold flows make it healthy

For people and critters at the same time (a tempo)

Saving Comal Springflow is up to you and me.

___________________________________________________________________________-

Comal Springs were made for you and me.

ONE MORE TIME:

Comal Springflow is up to you and me

__________________________________________________________________________

These springs are your springs

These springs are my springs

From the highland hills

To the coastal wetlands

From the Edwards Aquifer

To the Aransas refuge

Comal springs were made for you and me.

(AND the Whooping Cranes too!!)

Song 2

Chorus: From our heart, Planet Earth

Comal Springs are speaking, Chorus

Reduce pumping during drought time, Chorus

The Aquifer must not be ruined, Chorus

Extinctions must be avoided, Chorus

Forevergreen, Foreverblue, Comal Springs have flowed eternal, We have to let them continue.

Forevergreen, foreverblue, Comal Springflows are up to me and up to you.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Water is for life, Chorus

Water is for living, Chorus

Water is not for profit, Chorus

We can not drink money, Chorus

Forevergreen, Foreverblue, Comal Springs have flowed eternal, We have to see them continue

Forevergreen, foreverblue, Comal Springflows are up to me and up to you.

The Edwards Aquifer is sacred, Chorus

Comal Springs are Holy, Chorus

We are interconnected, Chorus

We must partner with nature, Chorus

Forevergreen, Foreverblue, Comal Springs have flowed eternal, We have to see them continue

Forevergreen, foreverblue, Comal Springflows are up to me and up to you.

We must catch the rainfall, Chorus

Don’t wait just do it, Chorus

Make your own place for skywater, Chorus

Make your own place for water reuse, Chorus

Reduce pumping during drought time, Chorus

Just do things with less water, Chorus

Forevergreen, Foreverblue, Comal Springs have flowed eternal, We have to see them continue

Forevergreen, foreverblue, Comal Springflows are up to me and up to you.

Let Us Shine

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Humans out of sync, out of harmony with nature

Tweeters note Comal Springs starting to go dry