The Herald-Zeitung

As an avid floater on the river, as well as a long-time resident of New Braunfels, I think it should be noted that the river also gets some of its funding for cleanup and security through those mounds of wristbands we are forced to wear. I know that New Braunfels should not have to shoulder the burden of taking all responsibility for the trash on the river, but it is a tourist attraction, bringing people in from all over the states and spending well-deserved funds on hotels, motels, eating out and recreation.

I have heard, just from talking to people on the river, that they can be very respectful of their trash. Some folks seem to think that the fee that is tagged with the wristband rubs tourists the wrong way. Therefore, they don't seem to take as much caution to keep our rivers clean as those who live here and respect what a beautiful recreational avenue we have all year round.

Please remember, not all tourists leave their trademarks behind in our rivers, and for those who do, as they age and hopefully get a little wiser on conservation and the “green” theory, maybe we should be optimistic and think the next generation (their generation) will have the same respect as us “old” floater folks in our 40s and 50s.

Kim Maikoetter

New Braunfels