Spring was an extremely busy time for the Hill Country Conservancy’s land team. We conducted annual monitoring visits on five of our conservation easements, we significantly advanced four prospective conservation projects, and we worked tirelessly to strengthen collaborative efforts with conservation partners throughout Texas.

Within the last five years, 88% of Texas experienced an exceptional drought. The drought of 2010-2015 was the second worst in the history of our state, and although we received relief in the spring, we are learning that we can’t rely on regular rainfall. Worse yet, scientists have warned us that frequent droughts may become a permanent part of our lives. Nothing is more important for our lives – and livelihoods – than having clean water to drink.

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) is an exciting opportunity to provide substantial funding for the conservation of at-risk species of fish and wildlife. With this funding, Texas alone aims to gain over $60 MM annually for implementation of conservation activities. These dollars would be available to provide increased incentives to private landowners managing in favor of healthy habitats and ecosystems. …

The new Farm Bill will be finalized very soon. Hill Country Conservancy and its partners have played, and continue to play, a big role in ensuring passage of this important legislation. We frequently talk with elected officials on both sides of the aisle, to remind them of the important stewardship efforts of private landowners. Such efforts are even more critical …

Economic viability is one of the greatest concerns for landowners of rural and agricultural land. Particularly in the Hill Country, it is especially hard to earn income from the land through traditional means such as livestock grazing or farming. This is in large part due to the generally poor, unproductive soils of the region. Everybody agrees that the rocky hills …