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
Conservation, Not Growth, Should Guide Water Restrictions
The recent City Council kerfuffle over year-round watering restrictions should not be the end of the matter. The current San Antonio Water System rate structure encourages wasting water by subsidizing large water users. This amounts to a tax on ordinary people to pay...
Arundo Management Meet and Greet BBQ planned for May 7th
On Sunday, May 7th, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Frantzen Park, community members can learn about non-native, invasive plants that are encroaching Hill Country river banks and threatening native ecosystems. Join local landowners, staff from Texas Parks & Wildlife...
HB 4122 Final Committee Substitute
On Thursday, April 27th, the House Natural Resources Committee passed House Bill 4122 out of Committee at a formal meeting at Chairman Larson's desk on the House floor. The introduced version of this bill allowed a landowner with 1,000 acres or more and within the...
Beginning of Water Conservation Period
The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District’s Water Conservation Period starts Monday, May 1st and extends through the end of September— the time when water use is at its peak. Since January 2016, groundwater levels in the District have been above drought...
Lawmakers working to create special districts to fuel Boerne-area growth
Developers behind two large subdivisions proposed in Kendall County are asking the Legislature to create a pair of special districts to help finance construction of roads and other infrastructure. Some residents are upset over not being alerted earlier by state and...
Legislature considering special use water district
Jessica Goode | Boerne Star | Slipping in with the proposition of a new development, another special purpose water district is on the Texas legislative floor. If it passes, Senate Bill 914, sponsored by Republican Senator Donna Campbell, will create the Kendall County...