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
Edwards Aquifer Authority must shell out to pecan farmers
The government agency in charge of the Edwards Aquifer must pay two pecan farmers upwards of $2.5 million for limiting their groundwater pumping, a jury decided. The verdict came as welcome news to Glenn and JoLynn Bragg. The couple has been in litigation with the...
Conservation Easement 101: What Is a Conservation Easement?
As development in Texas increases, lands that have been in families for generations are at a greater risk of fragmentation and development than ever before. Many are beginning to look to conservation easements to protect family lands for future generations. But what...
Pecan farmers at the center of historic groundwater case
A Medina County jury will decide this week how much the Edwards Aquifer Authority should pay a pecan-farming couple for limiting the water they can pump from below their land. The lawsuit involving farmers Glenn and JoLynn Bragg has been in litigation for 10 years....
Win for farmers confirms state water rights system
In a win for farmers, ranchers and longtime water rights holders, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday let stand a Brazos River basin decision that limits the power of the state to divvy up water during drought. Farmers along the Brazos River, whose basin includes...
UT study: More development regulation needed
A major new study on protecting the Hill Country from unrelenting population growth and land development was recently unveiled for Comal County residents. “People love this place and they really want to be here and appreciate the beauty that the Hill Country has to...
Abengoa Vista Ridge announces that it will sell 80 percent of its share in the SAWS pipeline project
San Antonio Water System officials today released a list of firms interested in buying into the Vista Ridge pipeline project. Brookfield Global Infrastructure Advisor Ltd., John Laing Group PLC and the Blackstone Group have all submitted formal proposals to Abengoa...