The mission of the Hill Country Alliance is to bring together a diverse coalition of partners to preserve the open spaces, starry night skies, clean and abundant waters, and unique character of the Texas Hill Country.
Community Resilience
As our region reacts to ongoing challenges, the Hill Country Alliance is working to keep you connected.
Our Work
Land
The Texas Hill Country region covers over 11 million acres in 17 counties of mostly privately held land.
Water
Thirteen Texas rivers begin in the Hill Country and provide water for millions of downstream neighbors.
Night Sky
The Hill Country sits on the edge of night and as development pushes westward, we are losing our view of the night sky.
Community
90% of Hill Country lands are in unincorporated areas where there is little authority to plan for growth.
Collaboration
HCA serves as the backbone organization and fiscal sponsor of the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network.
Latest News
Texas pilot program 1st to convert drainage water into drinking water
The winds blow hard here in these rural, agricultural farmlands called the “delta” in deep South Texas, where water is considered “liquid gold,” and officials experiment with how to turn drainage water into drinkable water as this region wrestles with drought. On...
Texas developers love big thirsty lawns. That’s a huge problem for the State’s water supply.
If you’re a native Texan, or if you’ve lived here awhile, you’ve probably had it drilled into your head: don’t waste water. And you’ve likely noticed how our ever-hotter, ever-drier summers are wreaking havoc on our aquifers, reservoirs, rivers, trees, and landscapes....
Groundwater feeds creeks and imagination
Paul Babb chronicles his life by rivers. Born just south of the Red River, Babb recalls touchstone encounters with the Red before his family moved to the Brazos and later to the Sabine in East Texas. He has called the rivers of the Texas Hill Country home for more...
San Marcos River reports first North American river otters in 70 years
Summertime is on the horizon and it is just about time to hop into Central Texas rivers to escape the heat. Meanwhile, a long-missed river animal is also heading back to the cool waters. Otter sightings have reportedly been happening in the area, marking a change from...
Why we have lawns
Many envision the ‘perfect’ American lawn as a lush, uniform green carpet that covers their outdoor space. But beneath this verdant facade lies a complex social history and significant environmental dilemma. The lawns that stretch across the United States, covering an...
Canyon Lake just set new record low water level, and it’s continuing to fall
South Texas has experienced a few thunderstorms over the past couple of weeks, bringing locally heavy rainfall and even a bit of hail into the region. San Antonio picked up 1.34 inches of rain on April 9-10, bringing the city’s 2024 total up to 9.96 inches. That is...
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asks state to halt new cement plant permits until 2025
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the state’s environmental agency, to halt approving permits for cement production plants in Texas until the 2025 legislative session. Patrick’s letter to TCEQ Chair Jon Niermann on Tuesday...
Act Now
Shop the HCA Store
HCA Resources
Reports:
One Water in the Texas Hill Country:
Connecting Communities with Projects and Professionals
