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
Report: Texas grid still not prepared for extreme winter weather
The Texas energy grid is still not fully prepared to weather a severe winter storm scenario, even after the string of upgrades and regulations that have followed 2021's winter storm, according to an Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) report published...
SAWS board approves legislative initiatives for 88th session
The San Antonio Water System’s board of trustees unanimously approved the utility’s legislative agenda for the upcoming session on Tuesday and said goodbye to a longtime SAWS MVP. SAWS hopes to use the session to support the continued development of “stable, equitable...
Shudde Fath, titan of Austin environmental causes, dies at age 106
Shudde Bess Bryson Fath, a prolific activist who battled to protect Austin's environment and its energy consumers, died early Friday at age 106. Born in 1916 in Bastrop, Fath graduated from the University of Texas in 1937 and worked for the state government for most...
Houses sprout up in the Texas Hill Country
Construction is set to begin next year on a 3,500-home subdivision on a ranch fronting Lake Travis, the latest batch of homes to blanket Austin's western flank. Why it matters: Suburban sprawl continues virtually unabated in the environmentally sensitive Hill Country....
Texas 2036’s Strategic Framework shows how Texas stacks up across key performance areas and against other states
As Texas looks toward its bicentennial, Texas 2036 releases a new data-driven roadmap for the state to be the best place to live and work. Reflecting more than six years of research and analysis, “Shaping Our Future: A Strategic Framework for Texas” was created by...
Wimberley approves transportation projects
After not seeing an update for 12 years, the Wimberley City Council unanimously approved some components of the proposed Transportation Master Plan last week. Earlier this year, the city of Wimberley engaged transportation consultants to study roadway safety, traffic...