Austin Water’s Wildland Conservation Division plans to conduct a prescribed burn on approximately 97 acres of the Water Quality Protection Lands on Wednesday, September 25.
The Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL) program manages over 30,000 acres to enhance the quality and quantity of water recharging the Edwards Aquifer. This aquifer supplies water to Barton Springs and groundwater wells in Hays and Travis Counties. The Austin Water Wildland Conservation Division oversees these lands.
“Conducting prescribed burns is one of the strategies used to manage these lands and protect groundwater in Central Texas,” said Matt Lore, Austin Water Wildland Conservation Division. “Prescribed burns improve the resiliency of our land when they are used as a planned seasonal management tool.”
Prescribed burns replicate the natural fire cycle in a controlled manner, reducing fire intensity and benefiting both natural landscapes and human communities by lowering the risk of destructive wildfires. These fires reduce brush and promote grasslands, which provide optimal water quality and quantity for aquifer recharge. According to Wildland Conservation staff, wildflowers and native grass communities show greater biodiversity after prescribed fires. Grassland birds like quail and northern harrier hawks benefit from open habitats created by fires for nesting and feeding.
A team of trained professionals from Austin Water staff, city and county fire departments, along with federal, state, and local land management agencies ensures safety during these operations. Partnerships with agencies such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, the Wildflower Center, the Texas Forest Service, Travis County Natural Resources, as well as coordination with local fire departments contribute to Austin Water’s successful prescribed burn program.
All personnel meet specific training requirements for their roles on the fireline. Each fire's prescription considers weather conditions – including wind and past precipitation – requiring specific parameters to ensure that fire behavior meets objectives and can be safely controlled.
Austin Water will notify the public before each prescribed burn event through maps showing specific locations. Interested individuals can sign up for email notifications at this link.
For regular updates about prescribed burns: www.facebook.com/AustinWater or www.twitter.com/AustinWater