Austin Water’s Wildland Conservation Division is preparing to conduct a prescribed burn covering about 190 acres of Water Quality Protection Lands on Tuesday, August 5. The effort aims to restore native grasslands and support water quality in the region.
Smoke from the controlled fire may be seen northeast of RR 3237, north of FM 150, south of FM 967, and west of FM 1626 and FM 2770 between 10 a.m. and sunset. Visibility of smoke could extend along the I-35 corridor between South Austin and Kyle, as well as between Dripping Springs and Wimberley. Residents can sign up for notifications ahead of each prescribed burn at https://bit.ly/rxburnnotification.
The Water Quality Protection Lands program manages over 35,000 acres to protect water recharging the Edwards Aquifer, which supplies Barton Springs and groundwater wells in Hays and Travis Counties. The division uses prescribed burns as part of its land management approach.
“Conducting prescribed burns is one of the strategies used to manage these lands and protect groundwater in Central Texas,” said Matt Lore with 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 fires replicate natural cycles in a managed way to reduce wildfire risks and promote healthy landscapes. Prescribed burns help reduce brush, encourage grassland growth, and support aquifer recharge. Staff have observed increased biodiversity among wildflowers and native grasses after such burns. Open habitats created by fire also benefit species like quail and northern harrier hawks.
The prescribed burn will be conducted by trained professionals from Austin Water, local fire departments, and various agencies at different government levels. Safety remains their main priority during these operations.
