Travis County Parks plans to conduct multiple prescribed burns at Pace Bend Park the week of July 27, 2020. The first prescribed burn is planned for Wednesday, July 29, 2020 and, depending on conditions, a second prescribed burn could take place on the following day, Thursday, July 30, 2020. The prescribed burns will occur between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and will take approximately three to six hours to complete.
Travis County Parks is conducting the prescribed burn in cooperation with personnel from the local fire departments and natural resource agencies.
The prescribed burns 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 are expected to be conducted with a southerly wind, which will carry the smoke to the north across the park, the lake, and communities to the north, including the Lago Vista area. Smoke will be visible for much of the day but is expected to be light.
The park will remain open; however, the interior of the park including the mountain biking trails will be closed for part of the week. The Collier Boat Ramp will also be closed. The main park road (Pace Bend Road) will be closed during the prescribed burn and there may be delays on Grisham Trail. Other areas in the park may be impacted by smoke.
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.
Pace Bend Park is located at 2805 Pace Bend Road North, Spicewood, TX 78669.
Media note: Please call the PIO (contact listed below), or check in at the park fee booth for additional information.
- Hector Nieto, Travis County PIO, 956-251-2902
- Glen Gillman, Park Land Manager, 512-844-7480
- James (JD) Taylor, Park Supervisor, 512-755-3617
