From Hill Country Conservancy, this month’s Get Involved spotlight non-profit:
Hill Country Conservancy (HCC) is an accredited regional nonprofit land trust that works every day to preserve open space in the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer region and the Colorado River Basin of the Texas Hill Country. Since 1999, HCC has preserved large strategic natural areas that conserve critical water features and wildlife habitat, provide outdoor recreation opportunities and help maintain the Hill Country’s character and unique quality of life for all to enjoy and cherish.
HCC is committed to creating an open space network of 100,000 acres of Hill Country land, which will preserve clean water, wildlife, the rural character and the impressive scenic views of the region that are currently threatened. By helping to secure thousands of acres of publicly owned lands, and by collaborating with the environmental community, businesses and landowners to execute land conservation agreements on more than 30,000 acres of conservation acquisitions, our vision of creating a 100,000-acre network of open space is becoming a reality.
Our philosophy is simple: Once Hill Country land is gone, it’s gone for good. When HCC preserves it, it’s here forever.
In the last year alone, HCC was able to finish the first major piece of construction on the Violet Crown Trail, which will be central Texas’ first regional trail system. Once completed, the VCT will run from downtown Austin into Hays County, connecting to parks and natural areas along the way.
Also in 2014, HCC finalized a conservation easement on the historic, 747-acre Ruby Ranch in Hays County, adding the final piece to a puzzle that has resulted in more than 10,000 acres of contiguous, preserved open space.
HCC also achieved accreditation from the Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Commission in 2014, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to permanent land conservation.
All of these achievements were made possible by our generous donors, whose support has allowed HCC to continue its work, to preserve the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country.
For more information about HCC and ways to get involved, visit www.hillcountryconservancy.org
