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
Big spring vs big oil
Charles Phillips was in his pasture one day last year when he heard the sound. At 85, Phillips doesn’t hear as well as he used to, but he had no problem picking up the unmistakable squeal of a drill boring through rock. That’s odd, he thought. Why would my...
Amid Population Boom, Texas Cities Plan $225 Million Water Pipeline
Texas cities with booming populations are teaming up on a major water pipeline project. “The Alliance Regional Water Authority has obtained permits and financing is underway to start construction next year on a 95-mile pipeline to pump groundwater from the...
Louisiana may sell water to drought-stricken Texas
Hit by drought after drought, Texas is so parched that it's asking its neighbors if they have any water to spare. Louisiana's response: maybe, but it'll cost you. This week, the state Water Resources Commission approved the formation of a group to study the idea of...
TPWD Announces Opening of Guadalupe River Fishing Leases
The Canyon Reservoir Tailrace, located below Canyon Reservoir on the Guadalupe River, is considered one of the top trout fishing destinations in the United States. To help anglers access the river during the peak of the cool-weather trout fishing season, the Texas...
New Census Data Shows SA’s Population Growth Rate Beating Dallas, Houston
San Antonio’s population increased by about 10 percent since 2011 to 1,439,358, according to new estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday. The city’s growth is second to Austin (16.1 percent), but outpaces that of Houston (7.2 percent) and Dallas (6.8...
Texas Has An Epic Story To Tell About Water Conservation
Texans are making tremendous progress on conserving water. In fact, in the municipal sector (composed of residential, institutional, industrial, and commercial water use) cities across Texas are using 21 percent less water than we were in 2000. One of the methods used...