Guest Speaker: Wesley Evans, Fire Coordinator with TPWD

What are the fire risks for the Preserve at Walnut Springs and how do we best mitigate these risks?  According to the Texas A&M Forest service, eighty percent of Texas Wildfires occur within two miles of a community (2011 Texas Wildfires 9). The varied terrain of the PWS requires a combination of management practices. While the longhorns and horses help to control overgrowth of our grass lands, and the ranch hands use manual equipment to help clear cedar, prune trees and manage overgrowth. There are steep, hilly and rocky areas that are not amendable to these practices. The DEW committee is researching alternative methods to reduce the overgrowth and fire risk in these more challenging terrains; flash mob goat grazing and prescribed burns can be effective management practices.  
A prescribed burn is the controlled application of fire to reduce naturally occurring fuels. With proper implementation it can be an effective and sustainable approach to mitigating the fire risk at the preserve, while also enhancing the health and beauty of our plant and animal wildlife.
The DEW Committee will be hosting Wesley Evans October 23 at 10am. Wesley is Fire Coordinator of Region 3, for Texas Parks and Wildlife. He has an extensive background and knowledge in the use of Prescribed Burns in Wildland Fire Management.
Members are welcome to attend the conversation in person at the Clubhouse or for those not able to attend in person a zoom invite link will be located on the pwshoa.com calendar.