Our Work
Land
HCA’s Land Program seeks to increase private land stewardship and permanent land conservation across the Hill Country, and works with regional land trusts to educate owners about conservation easements, track conservation metrics, and consider conservation priorities.
Water
HCA’s Water Program assists grassroots groups that champion water stewardship in their communities, advocates for policies that protect groundwater and surface water, and promotes resilient water supplies through the advancement of One Water projects.
Night Sky
HCA’s Night Skies Program helps Hill Country counties and cities minimize the impacts of light pollution through education and outreach, the establishment of outdoor lighting policies, and the recognition and celebration of certified Dark Sky Places in our region.
Communities
HCA’s Communities Program builds connections across county lines, supporting rural leaders in protecting the unique character of their communities while promoting innovative approaches to building healthy, vibrant communities throughout the Texas Hill Country.
The Latest
Letter to the Editor, the challenges of growth
by Ernie Witter, New Braunfels, TX, with the Comal Country Conservation Alliance Letter to the Editor of the Herald-Zietung Published June 11, 2019 Recent articles in the Herald-Zietung pointed out the continued growth of New Braunfels. As the second fastest growing...
Letter to the Editor, Legislature approves funding for parks
by Jensie Madden, Comal County, TX, with the Comal County Conservation Alliance Letter to the Editor of New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung Published June 11, 2019 As the 86th session of the Texas Legislature draws to a close, I am celebrating the passage of legislation to...
Trial portion of hearing on proposed Comal quarry concludes
The hearing on the merits against Vulcan Construction Materials ended early Tuesday afternoon. Approximately 80 people attended the two-day hearing, including Comal County residents currently living near the proposed quarry site, many of whom would share a fence line...
Unpave the parking lot and create paradise: A story of Headwaters at the Comal River
Remember the Joni Mitchell song “They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot”? Well, imagine you are on the Governing Board of the New Braunfels Utility and the staff proposes a plan to parcel off sections of a valuable 16 acres tract of land – once the fleet,...
Texas struggles to keep pace as thirst for water intensifies
DALLAS (AP) — About 1,000 people arrive in Texas each day, drawn by jobs, newly built homes and other opportunities. But in a state where prolonged drought is a regular occurrence, officials are struggling to ensure they can sate everyone’s thirst. Water experts are...
New manmade lake to bring clean, quality water to Rockwall county
Last spring, the North Texas Municipal Water District broke ground on the first major manmade lake Texas has seen in nearly three decades – Bois d’Arc Lake. Recently, the Rockwall County Commissioners Court welcomed an update from NTMWD on the project. Bois d’Arc Lake...