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
Citizen referendums are fundamental to democracy
Texas League of Conservation Voters urges “NO” votes on HB 2595. Home rule cities have enormous powers to govern. But in circumstances when governing bodies are not acting—or are slow to act—initiatives have proven useful tools for VOTERS to enact local ordinances...
Kramer: Water grid proposal not right for Texas
Critical vote Thursday, May 7th: Many Texans find satisfaction in being different from California. But a new legislative proposal would have Texas follow the deeply flawed California model of massive and costly pumping of water all over the state. This approach...
HCA learning opportunities about the SEP HCP
The Southern Edwards Plateau Habitat Conservation Plan (SEP HCP) has its share of controversy. HCA convened a successful meeting in Boerne in March to foster more understanding and as a result, a landowner gathering has been scheduled in Bandera on May 5th. Read more...
The steep costs of living so far apart from each other
In strictly economic terms, sprawl is inefficient. Spread people out, and it takes them longer to drive where they need to go, and it costs them more in gas money to get there. Disperse a few people over a lot of land, and that land is used inefficiently, too. Then...
A Habitat Conservation Plan for the Southern Edwards Plateau
Bexar County and the City of San Antonio are working on a regional planning effort to balance the conservation needs of rare plants and animals with the demand for economic growth and development. This program is known as the Southern Edwards Plateau, Habitat...
Lawmakers move to speed permits and limit protests
Hill Country landowners already have very little to say about industrial projects upstream. “The bill would scale back contested-case hearings, a process that allows the public to scrutinize and challenge industrial applications for environmental permits, such as...