News & Updates

Hill Country Alliance Accepting Applications for Night Sky Preservation Fund Through October 31

The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) is accepting applications through October 31 for its Night Sky Preservation Fund, which provides financial reimbursement assistance to local grassroots organizations, institutions, and other groups working to improve outdoor lighting...

Hill Country Alliance Announces 2026 Photo Contest Winners and 2027 Hill Country Calendar

The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Hill Country Photo Contest and the release of its 2027 Hill Country Calendar, featuring photographs that celebrate the beauty and unique character of the Texas Hill Country. Nearly 500...

San Antonio Express-News — Guadalupe River Recovery

Guadalupe River Recovery After Two Consecutive Floods | San Antonio Express-News What does recovery look like after two consecutive floods? The San Antonio Express-News explored the Guadalupe River's recovery, including restoration work led by Hill Country Alliance...

Don’t go with the flow

Do areas on your property look like this—sparse vegetation and very little topsoil? Hill County soils are notoriously thin. At one time, this spot likely had lots more soil and vegetation. What happened? Hard to tell exactly, but it’s likely due to a combination of...

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The Odessa water outage underscores a growing problem: Aging pipes in Texas cities are getting more fragile

Odessa city officials are still investigating what caused a massive water line break that left the city without water for 48 hours last month. But they’ve shared one important detail: The water line was about 60 years old. “Aging water systems are common throughout...

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Five things to know about drought in the American West

Harsh and unrelenting. But also transformative? The dry conditions blanketing much of the American West are setting records nearly every week. Lakes Mead and Powell, the country’s largest reservoirs by capacity, dropped to new lows this year. The Great Salt Lake did,...

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Hill Country peach crops behind schedule due to heat, drought

Peaches can be seen growing on trees throughout the Texas Hill Country, but they are ripening about 2 to 3 weeks behind schedule. The amount being harvested at places like Jenschke Orchards is far less than what was picked the last two seasons. "We are very grateful...

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Meet OSCAR and CLARA, the future of water management in Austin

Austin Water is unveiling an innovative blackwater system designed to set a course for the future of water management for new development in Austin. Located at the City of Austin’s Permitting and Development Center and known as OSCAR and CLARA, the project has...

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Water levels decreasing at Lake Travis as record-breaking heat continues

Texas continues to see triple-digit temperatures, and some experts say it’s contributing to dropping lake levels. According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, water levels at Lake Travis near Austin are at a four-year low. “The higher temperatures lead to higher...

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Intense drought conditions could make this summer one of the hottest in Texas history

With the state experiencing its most severe early summer drought conditions in nearly a decade, Texans are facing a wave of especially hot and dry weather that may kick off one of the state’s hottest summers on record, says Texas A&M University climate expert John...

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Opinion: Texas needs private investment to vastly enhance its water supplies

At a time when Texas continues it’s massive population growth, yet is experiencing declining water supplies and persistent drought, it is apparent that water remains the limiting factor to maintaining and growing our vibrant Texas economy. Over the decade from 2010 to...

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