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
LCRA releases drought update
The LCRA's drought update for the Highland Lakes region is full of interesting- and disappointing - facts. Due to the rainfall in the Colorado watershed coming in dispersed events and generating little runoff, 2014 inflows into the Highland Lakes system were the...
City Council Poised to Renew Edwards Aquifer Protection Program
“San Antonio voters have long recognized that our economy and quality of life rest on protecting the water and green spaces that drew people here centuries ago,” Councilmember Nirenberg said. Renewing this highly successful Hill Country conservation program for a...
Water as a Crop?
Should, could and would water be considered “a crop” by agricultural interests to market to water short urban neighbors? And, while protecting their own property’s value, their neighbor’s, natural resources possibly dependent upon that water (springs, creeks, etc.)...
State parks embrace measures to protect dark skies at night
“The stars at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas...” The 1942 Hit Parade song paying tribute to the Lone Star State’s starry skies strikes a sour note today in large cities nestled deep in the heart of Texas, where artificial light pollution has...
I Received a Letter Saying They’re Taking My Land…Now What?
Patrick L. Reznik, an attorney with Braun & Gresham, answers a few common questions about the rights of Texas landowners threatened by eminent domain, a process by which private and public entities condemn private lands to build transmission lines, pipelines, rail...
Texas Land Conservancy takes us to the Pedernales
Carolyn and Roy Horton are passionate stewards of Sandylands Ranch, a sweeping property that backs up to the Pedernales River in the Hill Country. Texas Land Conservancy (TLC) sat down with Carolyn and Roy to ask them about their stewardship ethic, their love of the...