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
Blanco River Flood Exacerbated by Manicured Lawns on the Riverbanks
Rachel Ranft steers a mud-splattered white pickup slowly along River Road, a narrow strip of asphalt a few feet above the now-placid Blanco River in Wimberley, Texas. She pulls up next to a towering bald cypress, a type of conifer native to central Texas that grows...
Colorado nonprofit partners with city on mobility
Austin leaders announced a partnership Monday morning between the city and Colorado-based nonprofit Rocky Mountain Institute to develop “innovative mobility solutions” to the transportation woes that frustrate many Austinites. Jeruld Weiland, managing director of...
TCEQ grants permit to take land for private developer despite judge’s ruling
The Graham family can never seem to cut a break from big government. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the state agency that grants wastewater permits, approved a permit for the neighboring developer of Johnson Ranch in spite of the fact that...
House Committee Holds Medina County Hearing For CWD Update
Colleen Schreiberm Livestock Weekly: The Texas House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism conducted another special hearing to address the chronic wasting disease issue. This one was not held at the Capitol, however, but in Medina County, where four deer in a...
Photo Contest Winners Announced!
Winning Photos in Calendar Contest Capture Extraordinary Moments of Hill Country Beauty Dazzling color and light emanate from each of the winning photographs from Hill Country Alliance’s (HCA) annual photography contest. Soft ripples of lavender and tangerine clouds...
Hill Country residents are encouraged to participate in Regional Water Planning
Hill Country regional planning groups have completed drafts of their portions of the 2017 State Water Plan, and now is the time to review and make public comments. These plans are essentially lists of water supply strategies intended to accommodate growth...