Hill Country Alliance turns flood recovery into riparian restoration across four-county region
The Hill Country Alliance, founded in 2005 and celebrating its 20th year, functions as a regional convener — bringing together landowners, government agencies, and advocacy groups to protect the Hill Country’s natural resources, water quality, night skies, and rural character against the pressures of rapid population growth and development.
Rebecca Gibson spent seven years on the Bandera City Council and two as mayor before taking what she describes as her dream job — regional engagement manager for the Hill Country Alliance, covering Bandera, Kendall, Kerr, and Medina counties.
She fell in love with the organization in 2016 at a cooperative meeting where someone was tabling for night sky preservation. She served five years on the HCA board before stepping down to join the staff on July 1, 2025 — four days before the flood.
“When someone’s riverfront property is damaged, they feel damaged, they feel hurt,” Gibson said Monday on Lead Live. “So that healing has been just really incredibly meaningful to be a part of.”
The Hill Country Alliance, founded in 2005 and celebrating its 20th year, functions as a regional convener — bringing together landowners, government agencies, and advocacy groups to protect the Hill Country’s natural resources, water quality, night skies, and rural character against the pressures of rapid population growth and development.
After the 2025 and 2026 floods, HCA expanded its capacity significantly to support riparian restoration. The organization partnered with Kerr Together, the Kerr County River Foundation, the Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, UGRA, and the San Antonio Botanical Gardens to coordinate the work. In June 2026, HCA hosted a large-scale native plant and seed distribution to help waterfront property owners stabilize and heal their flood-damaged land.
“Beyond the impact of the plants and the seeds themselves is the people who know now what to do and who to call and how to move forward,” Gibson said.
HCA’s flagship annual event — the Hill Country Leadership Summit — takes place Sept. 24 at Camp Lucy. Tickets are still available.
Contact Rebecca Gibson: rebecca@hillcountryalliance.org. Summit tickets: hillcountryalliance.org.
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