Austin Water’s Wildland Conservation Division is set to carry out a prescribed burn on 103 acres of the Water Quality Protection Lands on Wednesday, July 16. The burn aims to restore native grasslands and enhance water quality by mimicking natural fire cycles. Smoke from the burn may be visible in areas 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.
The Water Quality Protection Lands program manages over 35,000 acres to improve water recharging the Edwards Aquifer, benefiting Barton Springs and groundwater wells in Hays and Travis Counties. Matt Lore from Austin Water Wildland Conservation Division said, “Conducting prescribed burns is one of the strategies used to manage these lands and protect groundwater in Central Texas.”
Prescribed burns are controlled fires that reduce brush, promote grasslands, and enhance biodiversity. They also provide habitat for species like quail and northern harrier hawks. The operation will involve trained professionals from Austin Water staff, city and county fire departments, as well as federal, state, and local land management agencies.
Safety is a primary concern during these operations. Personnel involved meet specific training requirements, including fitness standards and personal protective equipment use. Each burn considers weather conditions such as wind and past precipitation to ensure objectives are met safely.
Austin Water will notify the public before each prescribed burn event with maps detailing specific locations. Interested individuals can sign up for notifications via email or follow updates on social media platforms.
Information from this article can be found here.
