Travis County Parks plans to conduct multiple prescribed burns at Reimers Ranch Park the week of June 25, 2018. Two prescribed burns are planned and they will take place on different days. The prescribed burns will occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and will take approximately four to six hours to complete. Travis County Parks is conducting the burns in cooperation with personnel from the local fire departments and natural resource agencies.
The prescribed burns are both approximately 150 acres in size and are intended to reduce wildfire danger and improve ecosystem health by removing invading shrubs, consuming dead and downed vegetation, reducing the number of exotic species, and enhancing the health and diversity of the native plant community.
The prescribed burns will be conducted with a southerly wind which will carry smoke across the park and towards the communities to the north. However, due to the distance between the prescribed burns and the adjacent communities, smoke impacts are expected to be relatively light.
The park will remain open; however, some portions of the park including the Mountain Biking Trails and portions of the Multi-use Trail will close for part of the week. The prescribed burns are located on the main park road and some delays and/or short-term closures may be required on the road.
Travis County is currently under a burn ban. Burn bans limit certain types of fire-use in order to minimize the potential for accidental fires and to reduce the impact fires have on emergency responders. Burn bans do not limit all fire use (cooking, welding, etc.), and many activities are allowed with certain restrictions. Prescribed-burn managers conduct prescribed burns during burn bans because conditions are favorable for meeting established objectives. Land managers, regulators and emergency responders coordinate the implementation of the prescribed burns.
Reimers Ranch Park is located at 23610 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620.
Media note: The prescribed burns are located adjacent to the main road, and in order to minimize impacts to traffic and provide for the safety of the park users and fire management staff, no media will be allowed on-site. Please call the contacts listed above or check in at the park fee booth for additional information.
