After receiving recommendations from the city's river advisory committee, changes will be made to the disposable containers and cooler size ordinances that apply to the city's rivers.

The ordinances, which were permanently protected by a Texas Supreme Court decision in September, ban disposable containers and restrict cooler sizes on rivers that fall within the New Braunfels city limits.

After receiving City Council approval Nov. 26, the enforcement boundary for the ordinances on the Guadalupe River is extended to the Business I-35 overpass. One of the reasons cited for the change is littering at the Faust Street Bridge.

"There continues to be containers, trash, and it just so happens that is south of the current boundary for the two ordinances," Assistant City Manager Kristi Aday said.

The ordinance restricting cooler sizes on rivers was also updated to allow 32-quart coolers, doubling the size from the previous 16-quart maximum.

Aday said the River Advisory Committee received feedback from customers and outfitters that the 16-quart cooler size limit seemed "overly restrictive." She told City Council the 32-quart coolers may still be carried by one person, so it does not pose a problem with tubers promptly exiting the river.

"The committee agreed that the 30-quart size was reasonable, and we feel like it’s in response to customer requests," Aday said. "It’s responsive but still maintains the integrity and meaning of the original ordinance."