Kirk Preston Watson - Mayor of Austin, Texas | Twitter
Kirk Preston Watson - Mayor of Austin, Texas | Twitter
Austin Water's Wildland Conservation Division is preparing to carry out a prescribed burn on 184 acres of the Water Quality Protection Lands. This activity is scheduled for Thursday, December 12. The division manages over 34,000 acres to enhance the quality and quantity of water that recharges the Edwards Aquifer, supplying water to Barton Springs and 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's Wildland Conservation Division. "Prescribed burns improve the resiliency of our land when they are used as a planned seasonal management tool."
Prescribed burns are designed to replicate natural fire cycles in a controlled manner, reducing fire intensity while benefiting both natural landscapes and human communities by lowering the risk of severe wildfires. These fires help reduce brush and promote grasslands, which are crucial for maintaining optimal water quality and quantity for aquifer recharge. The division has observed increased biodiversity among wildflowers and native grasses post-burns. Additionally, grassland birds such as quail and northern harrier hawks find improved nesting and feeding habitats after fires.
The team executing these burns consists of highly trained professionals from Austin Water staff, city and county fire departments, along with federal, state, and local land management agencies. Safety remains their primary concern during operations.
Personnel involved meet stringent requirements regarding training, experience, fitness, and personal protective equipment relevant to their roles on the fireline. Each burn plan considers weather conditions like wind and past precipitation to ensure objectives are met safely.
Austin Water will notify residents before each burn event with detailed maps indicating specific locations. Interested individuals can sign up for email notifications through a provided link.
Updates on prescribed burns can be followed at facebook.com/AustinWater and x.com/AustinWater.
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