Austin Water's Wildland Conservation Division is set to carry out a prescribed burn over approximately 300 acres of the Water Quality Protection Lands on Thursday, November 14. This initiative aims to restore native grasslands and improve water quality.
Smoke from the burn might be visible in areas 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. Interested individuals can sign up for notifications prior to each prescribed burn at https://bit.ly/rxburnnotification.
The Water Quality Protection Lands program manages over 34,000 acres with the goal of enhancing water quality and quantity recharging the Edwards Aquifer. This aquifer supplies water to Barton Springs as well as groundwater wells in Hays and Travis Counties. The management falls under Austin Water's Wildland Conservation Division.
"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."
Prescribed burns replicate natural fire cycles in a controlled manner, which helps limit fire intensity. They benefit both natural landscapes and human communities by reducing the risk of destructive wildfires. Such fires help reduce brush while promoting grasslands that optimize water recharge for the aquifer. Following prescribed fires, wildflowers and native grasses have shown increased biodiversity. Grassland birds like quail and northern harrier hawks find improved nesting and feeding habitats post-fire.
A team composed of Austin Water staff, along with city and county fire departments and various federal, state, and local land management agencies ensures safety during these operations, contributing to the success of Austin Water's prescribed burn program.