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
Conservation and growth are focus of ‘State of the Hill Country’.
The Texas Hill Country Conservation Network is made of dozens of non-profits, government agencies, academic institutions and aligned private businesses from across the 18-counties in the region. The Network wants to continue to see growth, but also protect the areas...
Spring Water Revival: Splash into learning, spring into action
A month of education, outreach, and action for Hill Country water. Spring in the Hill Country is a time of blooming wildflowers, flowing creeks, and (hopefully) the arrival of long-awaited rains. This spring, the Hill Country Alliance (HCA) is proud to announce the...
Unsafe Yield Severe drought, dead wells, political division push Arizona steadily closer to water supply peril.
When it comes to water in a county where groundwater is the sole source for irrigation and drinking, and where demand is racing ahead of supply, the boundaries of politics and ideology can change. Clear proof has emerged in recent years of the serious consequences of...
In the Hill Country, it’s always wine o’clock
The grapevines at Bending Branch Winery near the lazy Bruins Creek have dried up in the cold January air, and winery technician Melvin Mendez is still out pruning them, getting ready for the July-through-October harvest season. Despite the chill in the air, at noon...
Hill Country Alliance 16th annual photo contest: Snapshot of the Hill Country
Snapshot of the Hill Country – Our region is changing. Share your view! The Texas Hill Country is changing. The scenic beauty and abundant natural resources that have brought folks to Central Texas for thousands of years are at risk of being loved to death. As a...
State of the Hill Country: Growth in unincorporated areas of Kendall County
Editorial by Ben Eldredge, Cibolo Center for Conservation As the new State of the Hill Country Report illustrates, the Hill Country population has increased by 50% since 1990, with most of this growth occurring along the I-35 corridor. The fastest growing counties are...