Dear Friends and Neighbors,
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2022 was a year of growth for HCA - both in our staffing and in on-the-ground impact. Our efforts led to more than $30 million new dollars coming to Central Texas for conservation. We deepened our communications reach substantially, with dozens of news stories and op-eds in local media across the region. We hosted some of our largest gatherings ever - including our first ever Spring Water Revival Month and our annual Leadership Summit. We saw outdoor lighting ordinance changes in San Antonio and are excited about ongoing progress toward a new ordinance in Kerrville.
In 2022, we strengthened our collaborative work with the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network, the Texas Living Waters Project, the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape Partnership, and the Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining Coalition. When we work together, we can make real change in our region. To expand this collaboration, we developed a new leadership program especially for decision makers and elected leaders throughout the Texas Hill Country. As we look to the new year, we are thrilled to launch this new effort – the Hill Country Leadership Institute - in January 2023.
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Land
- Convened more than 100 conservation partners across the region.
- Engaged more than 375 private landowners in on-the-ground education through stewardship workshops, site visits, potlucks, presentations, and more.
- Led and grew the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape Partnership to over 50 partners, while also securing $8.57 million for private land stewardship.
- Welcomed Rachel Seets to the Land team.
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Water
- Launched the Sky Lewey River Protection Fund
- Engaged over 300 attendees in April’s Spring Water Revival
- Petitioned and continue to engage with TCEQ on wastewater discharge
- Convened two grassroots water advocate gatherings - bringing in more than 60 people across 8 counties
- Welcomed Marisa Bruno as the Water Program Manager.
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Night Sky
- Added new Friends of the Night Sky groups in Gillespie and Uvalde County - bringing us to a total of 15 groups.
- Helped pass night sky friendly amendments to the Military Lighting Overlay District Ordinance in the City of San Antonio.
- Supported 29 parks and communities seeking designations as International Dark-Sky Places.
- Celebrated third annual Hill Country Night Sky Month with 48 functions across 11 counties.
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Community
- Developed and recruited for the Hill Country Leadership Institute - launching in January 2022 with events planned across the region.
- Began new resource project on model ordinances to feature ~25 guides that promote responsible development and natural resource stewardship.
- Sydney Beckner stepped in to help grow the TRAM coalition - with 25 member organizations across 45 counties.
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Texas Hill Country Conservation Network
- Launched the State of the Hill Country Report - generating nearly 40 articles and interviews published across the state throughout the year.
- Released Water and Equity Report through the help of several Network partners and Texas A&M’s Natural Resources Institute.
- Received feedback from over 2,800 community members on the Land, Water, and Natural Infrastructure Plan - to be published in 2023.
- Bid farewell to John Rooney and welcomed Josh Sendejar as Network Manager.
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Follow along on our social media!
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Can you believe there are only 10 days left of 2022?! To celebrate, we're counting down the highlights of the past twelve months with #12DaysofHCA - a series spotlighting our staff and their work over the past year.
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Our partnerships across the region are strong. People are drawn to our work, our mission, and our vision for the region. None of this work is possible without the support of partners, donors, and dedicated advocates across the Hill Country.
If you've supported our work or spent time with us out in the Hill Country this year - thank you! For many, the holiday season is tied to gifts - both given and received. At the Hill Country Alliance, we think that some of the most incredible gifts are often found in the time spent together, out in the hills.
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Katherine Romans
Executive Director
P.S. It's not too late - support our work by making an end of year donation today. If you have already made a contribution for 2022, thank you so much for your support!
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