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
Hill Country photo contest winners announced
The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) announced Wednesday it had selected the winners of a photo contest recording the beauty of the area. The four winners of the 2022 Hill Country Photo Contest will be featured in the 2023 Texas Hill Country Calendar. Yu Zhou won the grand...
119 acres of scenic Hill Country views and habitat protected forever!
Querencia is the home of landowners Deborah Elliott and Pat Davis. The name of the property is a Spanish word referring to one’s safe place, or a place from which one’s strength is drawn, where one feels at home. The place where one is their most authentic self. Since...
Texas’ plan to provide water for a growing population virtually ignores climate change
Texas’ biggest single solution to providing enough water for its soaring population in the coming decades is using more surface water, including about two dozen new large reservoirs. But climate change has made damming rivers a riskier bet. ZAPATA — This small South...
2022 Hill Country photo contest winners announced and 2023 Calendar for sale!
The 2023 Hill Country Calendar is sold out! If you did not yet order your calendars, you'll have to wait until 2024. While we're sorry for folks who missed out this year, we are so grateful for the support of everyone that has ordered. Thank you to all who supported...
San Antonio’s treated sewage proving vital to river and estuaries
It’s easy to turn up your nose at what you flush down your toilet, but once the city cleans that wastewater, it can benefit the San Antonio River. Treated effluent makes up 90 percent of the flow in the river. It keeps aquatic plants and animals alive. It cools...
New project seeks ‘equitable adaptation’ of urban stormwater infrastructure, management
The National Science Foundation recently announced project awards for its Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC) planning grant program, and the team led by Wendy Jepson, Ph.D., Texas Water Resources Institute associate director and University Professor of Geography in...