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Join HCA in protecting the precious natural resources and heritage of the Hill Country. With a vast library of resources, regular postings of news and events and a host of dedicated informed volunteers, we strive to be your information center.

Regional Planning

Envision Central Texas and the Regional Water Quality Protection Plan are examples of existing planning projects reflecting broad citizen support.

The preferred growth vision from Envision Central Texas encourages population density in urban centers and along growth corridors, leaving more ecologically valuable and sensitive lands � including farms and ranches � undisturbed.

The Regional Water Quality Protection Plan emphasizes the scientific necessity of limiting impervious cover, the importance of water quality rules and enforcement, and introduces the concept of transfer of development rights, in which the owner's right to development becomes a commodity for sale or trade to others.

What�s needed in the Hill Country is a comprehensive approach to planning that considers infrastructure, conservation, agriculture, economic development and environmental resource protection together.

Recent News:

February 24, 2010

Transfer of Development Rights at work

The Regional Water Quality Protection Plan calls for a system of TDRs or Transfer of Development Rights where developers are allowed to increase density in cities by purchasing the development rights on land that has been designated for preservation in rural areas. Find out how this is working in Washington here. What�s missing in Texas is a county or regional tool for implementing such a program outside the municipalities.

November 11, 2009

Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program

EARIP stakeholders met Thursday and took the first of many steps in the process of establishing a plan to protect federally listed endangered species while balancing the region�s need for water. Read full media release here.

November 10, 2009

Final Central Texas Greenprint for Growth Report Available Now

The Central Texas Greenprint for Growth (the "Greenprint") is a tool for balancing sustainable conservation goals with the infrastructure needs of our rapidly urbanizing region. Expanding on the Travis County Greenprint for Growth completed during the fall of 2006, the Central Texas Greenprint was conducted between the spring of 2008 and the summer of 2009 with stakeholders from Bastrop, Caldwell and Hays Counties. Read full Envision Central Texas newsletter here.

Read more Regional Planning news and find upcoming events.

Helpful documents:

Central Texas Greenprint for growth Report - Showing conservation priorities for Hays, Travis, Bastrop and Caldwell Counties A summary of the Regional Water Quality Protection Plan - Regional Water Quality Protection Plan for the Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer and Its Contributing Zone
Transfer of Development Rights, a primer - General information and FAQs on Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs)
Do Counties Need more Power to Deal with Sprawl? - A Texas House of Representatives Research Organization focus report
PDR Fact Sheet - Fact Sheet from American Farmland Trust highlighting the status of local PDR programs.

Helpful links:

Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program - EARIP is a collaborative, consensus-based stakeholder process working to develop a plan to protect the federally-listed species potentially affected by the management of the Edwards Aquifer and other activities.
Envision Central Texas - Non-profit organization composed of a diverse group of citizens, including neighborhood, environmental, business leaders and policy makers, who share the common goal of addressing growth sensibly with the interests of the region's citizens in mind.
Regional Water Quality Protection Plan - Development of a Regional Water Quality Protection Plan for the Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer and its Contributing Zone
Texas Water Matters - The best most up-to-date resource on all water planning processes taking place in Texas.
American Planning Association Texas Division - Working toward advocating the profession of planning, providing expertise and processes that empower citizens to be engaged in the development and sustainability of Great Communities in Texas.
Smart Growth Network - Working to encourage development that serves the economy, community and the environment.
Regional Planning Foundation - Dedicated to creating means for making citizens more aware of how Regional Planning must become an every day, household effort to resolve the multiplying problems adversely impacting our urban regions.

Back to Issues

Upcoming Events

March

March 9 in Kerrville - �Hill Country Archeology: Why it is Important to You� - Hosted by Riverside Nature Center - Details

March 12-13 in Kerrville - Texas Rainwater Catchment Association 2010 State Conference - Details and Registration

March 12-14 in Junction - Riparian Essentials in Practice Workshop - Hosted by Texas Riparian Association - Details

March 25 - Water Issue Symposium �Kids, Water and Science: Perspectives from Our Future� - Details

March 25 in Boerne - Free Texas Watershed Steward Training Program - Details

March 27 - Lyndon B. Johnson Historical Park announces the 3rd annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour - Details

March 31 in Austin - 2010 Envision Central Texas Regional Forum Series - Bringing together regional leaders to examine the critical infrastructure needs and resource constraints facing Central Texas and how to translate these challenges into opportunities - Details

April

April 6 in Canyon Lake - Annual Research Update on Geology in the Canyon Lake Gorge, Presentation by Southwest Research Institute - Visit Website

April 13 in Kerrville - �The Geology of the Hill Country� - Hosted by Riverside Nature Center - Details

April 17 in Kerrville - Earth Day Celebration - Sponsored by Riverside Nature Center and the Kerrville Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas - Details

April 24 in New Braunfels - 4th Annual New Braunfels Earth Day Celebration - Details

April 28-30 in Austin - 2010 Statewide Land Conservation Conference - Details and Registration

May

May 31 - Last day of 2010 Hill Country Alliance Photo Contest.

See more upcoming events

The Latest News

Ranchers team up with feds to clear cedar, boost water supply
As water supplies become more valuable, conservationists say proper range management is an important way to improve them in urban areas, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service has begun an effort it calls Rural Land-Urban Water to promote the connection to urban audiences. Read full Statesman.com article here.

Drop by Drop: Seven Ways Texas Cities Can Conserve Water
The National Wildlife Federation and the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club released a joint report today recommending seven common-sense water conservation measures. The report reviews 19 cities around the state to see where these measures are in place and concludes that, with some exceptions, most of the cities surveyed are not doing enough to make the most efficient use of existing water supplies. Read more...

Watershed group meetings slated for spring in Seguin,
New Braunfels The Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership will conduct various workgroup meetings this spring in Seguin and New Braunfels. Data obtained from these group meetings will be used in watershed characterization and evaluation toward developing a Watershed Protection Plan. Read more

3rd Annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour Set for March
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park announces the 3rd annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour, �A Ride to Preserve History.� Details

Hill Country Deserves Protection of Environmental Impact Statement
Organizations across the Hill Country are asking state and federal agencies to ensure that protecting the Hill Country environment is a primary consideration as sites are selected for the high-voltage transmission lines soon to be built throughout the region. Read full media release here.

2010 Hill Country Alliance Photo Contest has begun
The Texas Hill Country is a photographer�s paradise. Creeks are once again flowing, and the forecast calls for a green spring with plenty of wildflowers. Now is the time to dust off your camera and head outside to capture the beauty and mystique of this special region. Read full media release here.

An Open letter to LCRA and PUC
The LCRA is finished with this last round of open houses but people in the Hill Country still have many concerns. It�s not too late to send in your comments. Read this open letter from one landowner and learn more. Read more...

Read more Hill Country news...