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
Oil and gas drilling brightening the dark skies near McDonald Observatory
After a career as a stevedore in Florida, amateur astronomer James Lowrey retired 11 years ago to the Big Bend, drawn by the otherworldly viewing possibilities of its inky night skies. But Lowrey and other astronomers in the region fear that lights from flares and oil...
SAWS closes on financial deal for Vista Ridge pipeline project
The San Antonio Water System announced Thursday that the city-owned water system has closed the financial portion of the Vista Ridge Pipeline Project. With the financial closure construction is set to begin in February. Garney Construction is the lead builder of the...
Regional planning will boost I-35 corridor
A recent survey by the U.S. Census Bureau found that New Braunfels was the second-fastest growing city in the United States. Pflugerville is No. 11. Previously, San Marcos had been the fastest-growing city in the country. Georgetown claimed that spot in the latest...
Rainwater Revival Agenda Now Set: Speakers to Bring Messages of Free, Easy, Dependable Water
The annual Rainwater Revival is the largest gathering of rainwater harvesting businesses and contractors in the state. Now in its 7th year, the Revival continues to evangelize the message of delicious water that comes free from the sky and is so easy to capture, store...
Hays County voters have big choice on $237.8 million bond package
Hays County voters will have to make a choice at the polls this year on the county’s largest request since 2008: a $237.8 million bond package. The bond package has two propositions: $106.4 million for public safety facilities, including an expansion and renovation of...
In the Growing Battle Against Invasive Plants, Texas Lags Behind Other States
"One of the great ironies of battling invasive plants is that many of them are legal to buy and plant in Texas. The City of Austin is one the few cities in the country that keeps a list of locally invasive plants that it works to control. It includes the plants glossy...