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
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...
As the Lone Star State booms, our wide-open spaces shrink
As the heart of Texas — the Texas Triangle — swells with population, the cornfields and sunflower stands recede before the march of the suburbs. But there is a glimmer of hope because ranchers and environmentalists, hunters and city dwellers now have something crucial...
New Law May Not Thwart Hays County Water Project
On a recent weeknight, nearly 200 Hays County residents packed into the Wimberley Community Center for what some described as a celebration. Six months earlier, three times as many had stormed the place demanding state legislation they hoped would thwart a major water...