In 2023, the Hill Country Alliance hosted, convened, or presented at more than 160 events and connected with a digital audience of 20,300. HCA released an unprecedented number of new tools, reports, and guides in 2023 and reached broad audiences across Texas, with dozens of news stories and op-eds. We launched the Hill Country Leadership Institute – a brand new program focused on connecting local elected officials across the region with resources on everything from groundwater management to growth planning. Click here to view the full report.
From the Director’s Desk
As I sit down to write another annual report letter, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude. 2023 marked my 10th year with the Hill Country Alliance. In that time, we have doubled our staff, been a part of generating tens of millions of new dollars of investment in conservation and stewardship across our region, and supported the grassroots efforts that are changing the future of the Hill Country as we know it.
Click here to view the full 2023 Annual Report.
HCA released an unprecedented number of new tools, reports, and guides in 2023. If you have not had a chance to learn about land stewardship techniques in upland areas, please visit our new Hillside Stewardship guide under our land conservation and stewardship page on the website. If you are an elected official or resident of a rural community, check out our new Leading by Example Guidebook, an introduction to some of the conservation- focused policies that cities and towns can implement to protect natural resources. Worried about ground water supplies and spring flow? Check out our primer titled Tools for Managing Groundwater in the Texas Hill Country, a new overview of how some of our most precious water supplies are planned for and protected.
While the grips of extreme drought have maintained their hold on the Hill Country, there were numerous bright spots in 2023. We were so impressed by the phenomenal success of the first-ever Hill Country Leadership Institute. Our inaugural cohort of 14 elected officials brought enthusiasm, passion, curiosity, and determination to 10 in-person meetings, and are forming the initial bonds of a broader coalition of community leaders ready to tackle the biggest challenges our region faces.
The Leadership Institute program, and all the work of the Hill Country Alliance, would not be possible without your support. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all who attended events, spoke at the Capitol, submitted comments to agency permitting processes, and championed the Hill Country in ways big and small. It is through your dedication that we continue to make strides in safeguarding this cherished region.
As we turn the calendar to 2024, we are looking ahead. HCA will begin celebrating our 20th anniversary this year, as we mark the original living room conversations that eventually led to the launch of HCA as we know it. The theme of our year will be centered on deepening our roots, growing our impact, and ensuring our future. I hope you will join us in that work. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the Texas Hill Country, leaving a legacy of beauty, vibrancy, and natural wonders for generations to come.
I’m for the Hill Country,
Katherine Romans
Hill Country Alliance Executive Director
Click here to view the full 2023 Hill Country Alliance Annual Report.