Texas A&M Forest Service breaks ground on new Bastrop County regional office
SMITHVILLE, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service, joined by officials from The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M AgriLife and local community leaders, officially broke ground April 29 on a new regional office in Smithville.
The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant investment in the region’s emergency response capabilities and natural resource stewardship. The new facility is designed to provide modernized infrastructure to meet the growing demands of wildfire response and forest management in Central Texas.
The Bastrop County facility follows a series of strategic capital investments across the state.
“Buildings bring people together, but they also signal commitment — to the mission and the region,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “This new building will be a long-term home for the Forest Service here and a clear signal that we are here to stay.”
The $2.5 million, 4,400 square-foot, single-story building with a four-bay equipment shed will be built on 300 acres known as the Schulze tract, donated to Texas A&M Forest Service by Dr. Gene Schulze, who once had his medical practice there, in 1999.
Construction is expected to proceed through the remainder of the year, with the facility reaching full operational capacity in 2027.
Al Davis, director of Texas A&M Forest Service, said the agency aims to strengthen its presence in the communities it serves.
“With the help of The Texas A&M University System and the Texas Legislature, we are able to put down some permanent roots here with the construction of this new building,” Davis said.
This new Texas A&M Forest Service office will enhance operational readiness with strategically placed equipment and personnel for rapid wildfire response. The facility will also serve as a strategic hub for forest stewardship and a local resource for landowners seeking guidance on forest health, land management and wildfire mitigation.
Bastrop County represents a critical area for the agency’s mission. The county is considered an epicenter of wildfire risk in Texas due to its unique ecology and history. The combination of the Lost Pines ecosystem — an isolated stand of unique loblolly pines — and rapid residential development creates a high-stakes wildland-urban interface, WUI.
“Bastrop County is now one of the most proactive regions for wildfire preparedness,” said James Altgelt, emergency management coordinator, Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management.
“This includes the presence of our Volunteer Fire Departments, Emergency Service Districts, TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System) strike teams and the strategic placement of state resources, such as the new Texas A&M Forest Service facility in Smithville.”
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About Texas A&M Forest Service
Texas A&M Forest Service is the lead agency for wildfire response in Texas and a leader in the forestry field. The agency provides for the safety of the public and the protection of property through a network of strategically placed personnel and equipment, while also ensuring the state’s forests and trees remain healthy and sustainable for future generations.
