Travis County Parks plans to conduct a prescribed burn at Southeast Metropolitan Park today, Tuesday, Nov 14, 2023. The prescribed burn will occur between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and will take approximately two to four 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 burn is 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.
North winds are anticipated which will carry the smoke to the south and across the park and Highway 71. Due to the small size of the prescribed burn and the distance between the prescribed burn and the adjacent roads and communities, smoke impacts are expected to be relatively light.
The Park will remain open; however, some portions of the park specifically the Primitive Trailhead, a portion of the Paved Trail, and the Basketball Court will close for part of the week. Those areas of the park that remain open may be impacted by smoke from the prescribed burn.
Southeast Metropolitan Park is located at 4511 Hwy 71 East, Del Valle, TX 78617.
Media note: The Park will remain open. There may be a PIO or staff available for interviews. Please call the Wildland Fire Manager (contact listed below) for more information.
- Hector Nieto, Travis County PIO, 956-251-2902
- Glen Gillman, Park Land Manager, 512-844-7480
