The mission of the Hill Country Alliance is to bring together a diverse coalition of partners to preserve the open spaces, starry night skies, clean and abundant waters, and unique character of the Texas Hill Country.
Community Resilience
As our region reacts to ongoing challenges, the Hill Country Alliance is working to keep you connected.
Our Work
Land
The Texas Hill Country region covers over 11 million acres in 17 counties of mostly privately held land.
Water
Thirteen Texas rivers begin in the Hill Country and provide water for millions of downstream neighbors.
Night Sky
The Hill Country sits on the edge of night and as development pushes westward, we are losing our view of the night sky.
Community
90% of Hill Country lands are in unincorporated areas where there is little authority to plan for growth.
Collaboration
HCA serves as the backbone organization and fiscal sponsor of the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network.
Latest News
Texas voters approve $1.8 billion in parks and recreation funding
This November, Texas voters approved Prop 14– the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund– with 76% of the vote. This $1 billion fund will enable the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to buy land to create dozens of new state parks. But on top of that historic win for...
Unique San Marcos River fish officially extinct
The San Marcos Gambusia was officially delisted from the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service due to extinction on Oct. 16, with it last spotting sometime between 1983-85. The San Marcos Gambusia was a species unique to the San Marcos Springs....
Who is ‘Edwards,’ anyway? 5 things to know about the Edwards Aquifer.
You’ve likely heard about the Edwards Aquifer, especially over the past few drought-stricken years. The groundwater system provides water for more than 2 million people, and water levels in recent months have dictated watering restrictions, making them a tangible...
Exploration Green shows stormwater management possibilities
Texas Water Resources Institute held its semi-annual Texas Watershed Coordinator Roundtable in Houston Oct. 9-10. The two-day tour and roundtable is part of the Watershed Planning Short Course program and brings together watershed coordinators and other water resource...
The Fight for Water Begins – Preserve our Hill Country Environment
I am Milann Guckian, president of Preserve our Hill Country Environment (PHCE) Foundation. It was January 2022 that I last wrote about our ongoing battle with Vulcan Construction Materials and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TECQ) regarding the proposed...
Central Texas leaders take action as labor shortage looms in the water industry
crisis is happening in the water industry. High rates of retirement and difficulty filling positions have resulted in a water and wastewater operator shortage in Central Texas and across the state. This is on top of the critical water supply issues the KVUE...
After outcry, Texas State backs off plan to sell outdoor retreat
After facing backlash from the community, Texas State University officials have backed off their plan to sell an outdoor reserve that is set aside for for students and alumni. The Texas State University System, the body that oversees the San Marcos campus, was...
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Five things to know about San Antonio’s largest water source, the Edwards Aquifer
www.expressnews.com
The Edwards Aquifer is San Antonio's largest water source. Here’s how it works and why it’s important.
Why are riparian areas important? | TWRI
twri.tamu.edu
A functioning riparian area along a low-lying roadway near Cottonwood Creek, Tehuacana Creek watershed, Freestone County, Texas
Great explainer on the #EdwardsAquifer and how water management around the aquifer works:
#SATX #txwater
“If we just stop mowing up to the water and leave some of the vegetation, there would be vast improvements to these riparian areas.” #txwater #riparianareas @TxWRI
https://twri.tamu.edu/news/2023/october/why-are-riparian-areas-important/