Austin city council authorizes land purchase to protect habitat and reduce fire risk

The Austin City Council authorized the purchase of a 6.89-acre parcel off Oakwood Cove in Northwest Austin, Texas.

The city plans to spend $3.68 million to acquire the land, which will connect Bright Leaf Preserve to the broader Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. The purchase aims to protect habitats for endangered species and reduce wildfire risks by limiting the expansion of the wildland-urban interface.

The land sits among public lands, and the city expects the acquisition to simplify the management of its conservation areas in the region. Austin Water's Wildlands Conservation Division currently manages the Bright Leaf Preserve, which the city received in 2021. The city is using a land acquisition fund created in 2024 to finance the deal through certificates of obligation. This fund focuses on meeting parkland demand, protecting water supplies, and reducing flood risks.

The city has used this same fund to add 49 acres of parkland near Onion Creek and a 10-acre property at Bear Creek in South Austin.