Austin Water’s Wildland Conservation Division is planning a prescribed burn on 103 acres of the Water Quality Protection Lands on Wednesday, July 16. The aim is to help restore native grasslands and improve water quality.
The burn area will be visible northeast of RR 3237, north of FM 150, south of FM 967, and west of FM 1626 and FM 2770 from 10 a.m. until sunset. Smoke may also be seen along the I-35 corridor between South Austin and Kyle to the east, and areas between Dripping Springs and Wimberley to the west.
The Water Quality Protection Lands program manages over 35,000 acres for water quality improvement in the Edwards Aquifer. This aquifer provides water to Barton Springs as well as groundwater wells in Hays and Travis Counties. “Conducting prescribed burns is one of the strategies used to manage these lands and protect groundwater in Central Texas,” said Matt Lore from Austin Water Wildland Conservation Division. “Prescribed burns improve the resiliency of our land when they are used as a planned seasonal management tool.”
These controlled burns mimic natural fire cycles with planned intensity levels to benefit both landscapes and human communities by reducing wildfire risks. They reduce brush, promote grasslands that enhance water recharge for the aquifer, and increase biodiversity in wildflowers and native grasses. Grassland birds like quail and northern harrier hawks benefit from open habitats created post-fire.
A team comprising Austin Water staff along with city, county fire departments, federal, state, and local land management agencies ensures safety remains their primary objective during these operations.
For those interested in receiving notifications before each prescribed burn: https://bit.ly/rxburnnotification.
