Land Conservation and Stewardship
Land Conservation and Stewardship
The Hill Country is blessed with a rich natural heritage. For many landowners, land is much more than a financial asset; it is their legacy and their family history. Unfortunately, passing on the family farm or ranch, once a time-honored Texas tradition, is becoming more difficult in the face of rising costs and the pressures of encroaching development.
The role of private landowners in the Hill Country could not be more important. Especially within the context of Texas’s longstanding tradition of robust private property rights, the decisions made by each Hill Country landowner affect the future of the entire region and the legacy we will all leave to our children and grandchildren. Many landowners want to preserve their land’s unique natural features and historical uses. This page provides information and resources for you. Also see HCA’s page on the economics of land conservation here.
Download HCA’s issue paper “Conservation Easements and Working with Land Trusts”
Hillside Stewardship
Effective hillside stewardship balances healthy plant communities and soils with the landowner’s goals for long-term land management. When landowners can slow and sink water into the land, this physical process provides a variety of benefits, including reduced erosion, increased soil moisture and grass production, flood mitigation, groundwater replenishment, habitat enhancement, and increasing the flow of spring-fed creeks. Used in concert with long-term management, these site-specific structures can be quite effective. This guide provides a few simple methods and additional resources for landowners looking to improve our stewardship of hillside land across the Hill Country.
Download HCA’s resource “Hillside Stewardship: Methods for Reducing Erosion, Establishing Vegetation & Enhancing Water Catchment”
Recent Land Stewardship and Conservation News
Camp Bullis protection program receives $502K grant
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently announced the awarding of a $502,000 grant that will fund a groundwater study as part of an initiative meant to protect the Camp Bulls military mission and the surrounding area. Read more from Edmond Ortiz with Community...
Passing the torch: 19 properties officially transferred to Texas Land Conservancy
In the spirit of passing the torch, I am delighted to inform you that the Hill Country Land Trust has successfully completed a three-year process of transitioning its 19 protected properties, totaling 8,010 acres, to the capable hands of Texas Land Conservancy (TLC)....
Exploding development in Gillespie County
Aquifers, rivers need high consideration along with growth. “Everyone is concerned about the explosion of growth”, said Paul Tybor, General Manager of the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District. Read more from Katherine Peake in the Fredericksburg...
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...