Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC) has been at the forefront of land
preservation in the Houston region for 30 years. The organization was formed in 1996 as a land conservation committee of Bayou Preservation Association (BPA), a group dedicated to protecting the bayou systems of Houston. BPA was organized by local environmental hero Terry Hershey, and her mark on BLC’s early years remains evident.
​
To better protect the bayous, and the water that flows into them, Bayou Lands (yes, plural) Conservancy was launched to directly protect the floodplain and green spaces surrounding these streams. For a brief time, the organization was known as Southeast Texas Conservancy, and later as Legacy Land Trust.
​
​In 2010, the organization decided to reclaim its original name (deleting the “s” in Lands) and reverted to Bayou Land Conservancy in November 2010.
Terry Hershey
Recognized by the Land Trust Alliance, BLC proudly became a nationally
accredited land trust in 2012. The process of accreditation involved a rigorous review and analysis of previous projects, organizational structure, and ability to steward land in perpetuity. Accreditation is a prestigious acknowledgment that BLC is committed to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in our conservation work.
In 2024 our accreditation was renewed for the second time, confirming our compliance with national quality standards and providing continued assurance to donors and landowners of our commitment to forever steward their lands.
We have accomplished much since our first conservation easement was signed in 1996. As of today, we have protected over 15,000 acres of precious green space at 63 preserves in the Houston region. Our name exemplifies the work we’ve been doing for 30 years – protecting land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife.
​