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.
Our Work
Land
The Texas Hill Country region covers over 11 million acres in 17 counties of mostly privately held land.
Water
Thirteen Texas rivers begin in the Hill Country and provide water for millions of downstream neighbors.
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.
Community
90% of Hill Country lands are in unincorporated areas where there is little authority to plan for growth.
Collaboration
HCA serves as the backbone organization and fiscal sponsor of the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network.
Latest News
KVUE Defenders: Wastewater in waterways
"Would you want your kids in that river the way it is?" "The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sited the Liberty Hill water treatment plant for six different violations, including failure to keep sewage from getting into the San Gabriel River." "The Edwards...
Report: Fecal bacteria found in 60% of Austin waterways
A new report by Environment Texas Research and Policy Center reveals that many of Austin's creeks and streams tested for high levels of bacteria in 2017. According to the report, 46 freshwater sites around Austin had levels of bacteria indicating levels of fecal...
Bacterial Pollution makes San Antonio creeks and rivers not swimmable
In early May, San Pedro Creek Culture Park opened with an outdoor festival that marked the transformation of a former concrete-lined channel to a public space with murals and fountains. Visitors, including children, splashed in the creek in the new Plaza de Fundación,...
Proposed sewage treatment plant near Honey Creek will recycle water, consultant says
A consultant in a planned subdivision has responded to concerns about a permit under review that would allow the discharge of treated sewage from the development upstream of Honey Creek, one of the most pristine waterways left in the Hill Country north of San Antonio....
Your next trip? It’s written in the stars
Like watching the sunset, seeking out the Big Dipper in the night sky is a vacation ritual. But in the past five years, according to experts, the term astrotourism has evolved to describe more intentional travel to places with dark skies and more visible stars....
A spillover of growth? Boerne cave business concerned development causing caves to flood
The owner and general manager of Cascade Caverns, a cave touring business nestled at the end of a winding road east of I-10, say the caves have seen unusual flooding in recent months, and they're blaming a series of subdivisions being built nearby. Pamela Brauchle,...
Hill Country Photo Contest Winners Announced
The Texas Hill Country is a unique region filled with diverse wildlife, clear springs, sprawling rural landscapes, historic towns, and some of the starriest night skies in the country. Each year the Hill Country Alliance (HCA) holds a photo contest encouraging...
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