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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.

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Oak trees sprawl out, casting shade over a yellow field of tall grass.

Land

The Texas Hill Country region covers over 11 million acres in 17 counties of mostly privately held land.

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Sunset fades over red trees and the flowing water of a rocky creek

Water

Thirteen Texas rivers begin in the Hill Country and provide water for millions of downstream neighbors.

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The Milky Way illuminates a brilliant blue, starry sky over a Hill Country river.

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.

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A little boy in cowboy boots and a button down shirt swings a rope in the middle of a rodeo arena.

Community

90% of Hill Country lands are in unincorporated areas where there is little authority to plan for growth.

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Collaboration

HCA serves as the backbone organization and fiscal sponsor of the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network.

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Hill Country Alliance

The Hill Country Alliance is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to raise public awareness and build community support around the need to preserve the natural resources and heritage of the Central Texas Hill Country.

Hill Country Alliance
To accompany the launch of the Hill Country Alliance's latest resource, "Model Language for HOAs in the Texas Hill Country," we hosted a webinar that covers what's in the guide, how it was developed, and how to implement it (plus time for Q&A). This new guide includes model language to help new developments and existing HOAs put in place landscaping policies that preserve the water resources, night skies, and native landscapes of the Hill Country.Whether you are a developer establishing CC&Rs for a new subdivision, or an established HOA board or committee wishing to revise existing Landscape Guidelines, this guide can be a valuable tool for achieving significant and beneficial changes.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Background on the Guide 16:54 - CC&Rs and Landscape Guidelines 27:38 - Implementing the Guide 38:17 - Q&A sessionPreview the guide at: hillcountryalliance.org/hoaguide
Model Language for HOAs in the Texas Hill Country: Information Session
2024 was a busy year and 2025 is off to quite a start. Thank you to all who supported our work for the Texas Hill Country in 2024 - here's a preview of what's to come! Learn more and stay in the loop by subscribing to the Hill Country Alliance newsletter at bit.ly/Subscribe2HCA
Valentine's Love for our Program Areas
It’s the season of giving and every gift - no matter the amount - makes a meaningful difference in our work for the Texas Hill Country. Now through December 31st, thanks to the support of two generous donors, all donations made to the Hill Country Alliance are being matched - up to $50,000!Donate today and help support our work for the land, water, night skies, and communities of the Texas Hill Country. If you’ve already made a gift to HCA this year, thank you so much for your support!
Support the Hill Country Alliance - 2024 Year-end Giving
In this recording from the 2023 Hill Country Leadership Summit, Fredericksburg Councilwoman and Hill Country Leadership Institute alum Emily Kirchner shares a story on belonging in the Texas Hill Country and on the impact of individuals in shaping their communities. She also shares her experience as an elected leader in Fredericksburg and in the 2023 Hill Country Leadership Institute - a program of the Hill Country Alliance.Learn more about the Leadership Institute: https://hillcountryalliance.org/leadershipinstitute/Learn more about the Hill Country Alliance and our annual Leadership Summit here: https://www.hillcountryalliance.org/leadershipsummit
The Impact of Local Engagement
This recording is aimed at helping partners learning how to build successful grant applications and features Dr. Kelty Garbee and Evan Wolstencroft from Texas Rural Funders. In the recording, Evan and Kelty share tips on creating strong grant applications, walk through the Texas Rural Funders Grants Hub, and explore resources to help listeners find the right grant for their projects.This webinar was recorded on December 12, 2024 and followed by a workshop with attendees.
There's a Grant for That Webinar with Texas Rural Funders
In this recording from the 2023 Hill Country Leadership Summit Hill Country Alliance Program Director Cliff Kaplan shares two new resources for managing growth at the local level - the Leading by Example Guidebook and a new report on county authority in Texas.Explore these tools at https://hillcountryalliance.org/resources/Learn more about the Hill Country Alliance and our annual Leadership Summit here: https://www.hillcountryalliance.org/leadershipsummit
Tools to Manage Growth: Two New Resources for Local Leaders
In this recording from the 2023 Hill Country Leadership Summit, San Antonio Regional Coordinator Josie Gutierrez shares more about the work Latino Outdoors is doing to connect Latino families and communities with outdoor recreation opportunities.Learn more about Latino Outdoors in Central Texas at: https://www.instagram.com/latinooutdoors_satx/ https://www.instagram.com/latinooutdoors_austin/Learn more about the Hill Country Alliance and our annual Leadership Summit here: https://www.hillcountryalliance.org/leadershipsummit
Latino Outdoors: Celebrando Crecimiento in Texas
In this presentation from the 2023 Hill Country Leadership Summit, Dr. Joni Charles shares more about her class on environmental economics in the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University.Learn more about the Hill Country Alliance and our annual Leadership Summit here: https://www.hillcountryalliance.org/leadershipsummit
Environmental Economics and Empowering the Next Generation
In this recording of the 2023 Hill Country Leadership Summit, Preserve Our Hill Country Environment President Milann Guckian shares information on the Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM) - a statewide coalition aimed at advocating for the adoption of statewide standards for best management practices in the rapidly expanding Aggregate Production Operation (APO) industry.Learn more about TRAM here: https://www.tramtexas.org/Learn more about the Hill Country Alliance and our annual Leadership Summit here: https://www.hillcountryalliance.org/leadershipsummit
Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining: Building a Statewide Coalition –
Droughts bring a myriad of extreme challenges to our region—from declining spring flows and low lake levels, to reports of dry wells and stressed community water supplies—but they can also be the catalyst for innovations that move us towards a more sustainable water future. In this panel, we’ll hear from local leaders and elected officials on the opportunities to shore up our water supplies and protect our water resources for future generations.Moderator: Marisa Bruno – Hill Country Alliance Panelists:  Representative Tracy O. King – District 80 | Hays County Commissioner Lon Shell | Dave Mauk – Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District | Sharlene Leurig – Texas Water TradeTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 02:05 Panel Discussion 37:40 Audience Q&A
When Life Gives You Drought: Innovations for a Better Water Future
As the Hill Country becomes increasingly fragmented, we must consider the role of the small-acreage landowner in stewarding natural resources on which we all depend. Learn more about some of the tools, resources, and programs available to support small-acreage land stewardship during this panel with landowners and partner organizations.Moderator: Dr. Angelica Lopez – Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute Panelists: Christine Middleton – Hays County Master Naturalists | Jared Schlottman – Texas Wildlife Association | Steve Janda – Hill Country LandownerTIMESTAMPS 00:00 Presentation on land trends from Dr. Angelica Lopez 06:31 Panel discussion 34:44 Audience Q&A
Stewarding Small Acreage in the Hill Country
In the last couple of years, we’ve seen an uptick in new private dams in the Hill Country. These new dams have raised questions from downstream landowners about the process for permitting new dams, and what to do if you discover an unauthorized dam. In this October 2024 webinar, we cover the complex world of dam permitting with the agencies that regulate dams.Speakers: - Beth Bendik, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) - Joe Shelnutt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Trina Lancaster, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) - Myron Hess, Lawyer (Presenting on Water Rights with TCEQ)TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 05:54 TCEQ permitting overview 27:21 Dam safety 101 38:30 TPWD permitting program 54:30 USACE permitting 01:17:17 Summary: When do you need a permit? 01:19:22 Audience Q&ACORRECTION: The definition of State Water mentioned at 06:40 in the TCEQ permitting overview can actually be found at Section 297.1 (52)Learn more at http://hillcountryalliance.org/
Private Dams - Understanding the Permitting Process
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