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
Pumping impacts to Devils River
Video: A geoscience team from Southwest Research Institute recently completed a study on the long-term effects of groundwater pumping near Devils River, one of the state’s last pristine rivers. They found that the river relies heavily on natural springs from the...
Commissioner Wolff: High-Speed Rail Transportation ‘Closer Than Ever’ for SA
High-speed passenger rail connecting Texas cities, a promise that seemed to have died after decades of discussion, is back in the conversation as San Antonio squares off against growth and congestion with talk of light rail as a solution that needs only voter support....
SAWS offers its customers discounted rain barrels
Many of us have watched the rain pouring from our rooftops and wished we could save it for a drier day. Now you can! SAWS is offering coupons towards the purchase of a rain barrel for residential water customers. Distribution Event Order by Oct. 20 -...
Oct. 16 last day to comment to keep Texas billboards from doubling to 85 feet
Imagine driving across Texas and seeing billboards suddenly stretching twice as high, marring your view of the landscape. A scenic advocacy group fears this could be the result of proposed new rules from the Texas Department of Transportation. For decades, the maximum...
Boerne still charms but growth beckons
Natalie Sales had never laid eyes on this small town, nestled in the Hill Country 30 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, when her husband suggested moving here four years ago, seeking a better quality of life. The couple were raising their two daughters in the...
Water Myths Debunked
Myth: Our water supply is infinite. If only that were true. Remember the water cycle? Evaporation and transpiration, condensation, precipitation. Repeat. Unfortunately, we are limited to the water that is available to us now—the same water that our ancestors drank and...