
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.
Latest News
‘Nature-based solutions’ like trees and rain gardens can be cost-effective climate adaptations, advocates say
In early February, winter weather pummeled Austin, Texas, where “extreme weather” usually refers to sweltering temperatures, not ice storms. More than 100,000 city residents lost power because of the historic weather event, a recent example of why cities need to...
Fight over planned concrete plant has emotions running high in Garden Ridg
Residents of Garden Ridge — a town of about 4,000 just across the Comal County line from Bexar County — say they are concerned the plant would lead to increased dust and traffic, as well as the proposed site’s proximity to homes, a church and a preschool. Batch plants...
Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District – Press Release 4/11/2023
April 10th Regular Board Meeting The Directors received an update from the District’s staff regarding current hydrologic conditions. The average water level was 22.51’ below the March average. This is the lowest March level on record. The levels of the District’s 43...
Good SITES design leads to happy campers at Shield Ranch
The SITES Gold Campsite at Shield Ranch, located just 22 miles from downtown Austin, Texas, serves as the new home for Camp El Ranchito, a scholarship-based overnight camp. El Ranchito started in 2007 as a primitive campsite with the mission to connect children with...
Sentinel Landscape program uses conservation to protect Camp Bullis, other military sites
Now with the help of the Sentinel Landscape designation, efforts are underway to help area landowners preserve nearly 1 million acres around the camp, protect water and wildlife, and reduce noise and light pollution. “The challenge is how do we work across this vast...
Number of city dwellers lacking safe water to double by 2050
The number of people lacking access to safe drinking water in cities around the world will double by 2050, research has found, amid warnings of an imminent water crisis that is likely to “spiral out of control”. Nearly 1 billion people in cities around the world face...
Water fund can help Texas fix aging pipes, pay for new water sources
Texans will find relief in a state Senate bill that tackles our aging and neglected water infrastructure. Even with its limitations, the proposed legislation could be the first major overhaul of the Texas water system in a decade. Senate Bill 28 would allow Texas to...