National Fire Plan Success Story

Prescribed Burning and Cedar Shearing
Caddo-LBJ National Grasslands, Texas
National Fire Plan - Restoration
2007

The Caddo-LBJ National Grasslands is located 40 miles outside of Dallas / Ft. Worth. The population of the area is approximately 6 million people and growing. The increase in population has paralleled the encroachment of eastern red cedar onto the Grasslands. Eastern red cedar can grow up to 2 feet per year, is a serious drain on the groundwater resource, and is extremely flammable.

Native grasslands are one the countries fastest disappearing communities, attributing to the alarming decline of grasslands bird species. For the past 9 years, the CLBJ has been working on fuel reduction projects to address cedar encroachment. Since 1997, we have averaged over 4,000 acres of prescribed burning per year to manage the prairie and savannah ecosystems. Prescribed burning can control red cedar under 6-feet in height. However, burning alone is not effective in treating the cedar and hardwood encroachment on the previously unmanaged open areas. We have completed over 5,600 acres of fuel reduction by shearing and cutting of eastern red cedar. Over 100 miles of permanent firelines have been constructed to increase our ability to economically prescribe burn. The combination of prescribed fire and mechanical treatment is essential to the restoration of this critical landscape.

Contact

Scott R. Fry, District Fire Management Officer
Caddo and LBJ National Grasslands
PO Box 1316
Decatur, TX 76234
940-627-5475