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
Western Travis County PUA fined for treated wastewater spill
As a consequence for discharging millions of gallons of treated effluent water toward the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality charged the Western Travis County Public Utility Agency $8,001. The TCEQ investigation into the...
Exciting new leadership within HCA board to start 2017
The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) announced the appointment of a new member to its board of directors, Dr. Francine S. Romero. HCA also announced the appointment of Judge Garry Merritt of Real County as board president, taking over for Dr. Leo Tynan of Fredericksburg...
Hill Country workshop provides landowners with information on conservation easements
The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) is hosting a landowner workshop from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, February 10, 2017, at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Bass Conference Facility, 138 Kerr WMA Rd W, Hunt, TX 78024. This workshop will focus on conservation easements—a...
The stars at night… Commissioners approve night skies resolution
Jennifer Reiley | The Kerrville Daily Times | Kerr County commissioners are in support of protecting the night skies of the Hill Country from light pollution. Local Realtor Jim Wills and his wife, Kadi, came back to commissioners court Monday with a revised resolution...
Steve Nelle: What is Land Stewardship?
The subject of land stewardship has gained a great deal of positive attention in the last decade, but although the term is commonly used, it has seldom been clearly defined. When a phrase comes into such popular use, there is a danger of it becoming merely an overused...
Elected officials share their thoughts on upcoming Legislature
Jennifer Reiley | Kerrville Daily Times | A new Texas legislative session launches Tuesday, and Kerr County will have new and returning representation in the 85th Legislature. Dawn Buckingham, an opthamologist from Lakeway, is the newly elected senator representing...