Texas Parks and Wildlife Department advises the public not to worry about a large smoke cloud coming from Guadalupe River State Park, 3350 Park Road 31, Spring Branch, or Spring Branch Road.
An “intentional well-controlled/polite flames prescribed burn” is underway and the public may notice smoke over the next several days.
The burn is not expected to affect park visitors.
TPWD said the burn helps keep the park safe and habitat healthy.
Wildland fire is a natural element of both grassland and forest ecology, according to TPWD’s website.
“Historically, wildland fires occurred naturally and were critical in regulating both animal and plant communities,” TPWD said. “A lack of fire over the last century has led to an imbalance in fire-adapted plant and animal communities and aTexn increase in extreme wildfires. A key to reclaiming and restoring fire-adapted ecosystems while also reducing the risk of extreme wildfires is TPWD’s focus on implementing prescribed burning.”
Prescribed burns reduce fuel loads (existing dead and dormant vegetation) and woody plant encroachment and are beneficial for many native plant species.
To learn more about Guadalupe River State Park, click here.
