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
2009 Conservation Easement News
September 17, 2009 Army, warbler making peace The Nature Conservancy and Fort Sam Houston were poised to announce today a five-year agreement to bolster Camp Bullis by finding and purchasing land to set aside as habitat for an endangered songbird. Read full SA Express...
2009 Water Quality News
December 30, 2009 TCEQ public hearing this Thursday, Jan 4th at 7pm – Wastewater discharge into Lake Travis The Protect Lake Travis Association newsletter covers all the details. Concerned landowners, lake business owners and residents should attend and make comments....
2009 Water Planning News
November 19, 2009 State environmental agency rejects request to repeal discharge ban The state environmental office Wednesday denied a request to repeal a ban on the discharge of treated wastewater into the Highland Lakes, which serve as the prime recreation and water...
2009 Rainwater Harvesting News
August 18, 2009 Drop in time A one-inch rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields 600 gallons of water — a bounty during times of drought, according to Hill Country Master Naturalist Jim Stanley. But storing rainwater is just one of the benefits of a rainwater...
2009 Groundwater News
December 19, 2009 Growth vs future water supply Months of behind-the-scenes work paid off Monday night with a quiet public hearing and unanimous approval of a revised management plan for the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District. The plan deals with numerous...
2009 Drought News
September 24, 2009 Intensity of drought surpasses previous droughts Despite scattered rainfall, the Colorado River basin remains in a severe drought that is affecting water supply, LCRA staff told the Board of Directors this week. As a result, LCRA is considering...