Bell County is two landscapes joined by I-35. The west side (Killeen, Harker Heights, Nolanville and the country around Stillhouse Hollow Lake) is rocky limestone and cedar on the edge of the Hill Country, bordering Fort Cavazos. East of the interstate, around Temple, Holland and Troy, the Blackland Prairie spreads into rich clay farmland. Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake anchor the middle, and the Leon and Lampasas rivers meet below them to form the Little River.
The Killeen–Temple area keeps growing, and much of that growth reaches cedar-covered acreage west of Belton and around Salado, where new owners need homesites and drives cleared without losing their oaks. On the prairie, farm ground fills with mesquite and fence rows grow shut, and hunting land near the lakes needs lanes and thinning.
Land clearing in Bell County is a short haul from our Bertram shop, and Jordan LaVine walks every property before we quote it.
Communities we work in Bell County
- Belton
- Temple
- Killeen
- Harker Heights
- Nolanville
- Salado
- Morgan’s Point Resort
- Holland
- Troy
- Little River-Academy
Cedar draws west, sticky clay east
West of I-35, Bell County is shallow limestone with steep draws along Nolan Creek and the Lampasas River, and cedar grows thick on the slopes above Stillhouse Hollow. East of the interstate, deep Blackland clay turns sticky and soft after rain, which decides when heavy equipment can safely work. Salado Creek, Nolan Creek and the rivers below the lakes all flood quickly.
Western work centers on cedar removal, homesite and driveway clearing and selective clearing around Salado, Belton and Harker Heights. East of I-35 it’s mesquite grubbing, pasture restoration, fence lines and farm ground recovery around Holland, Troy and Little River-Academy.
Warblers, salamanders and city rules
Oak-juniper woodland in western Bell County can be golden-cheeked warbler habitat; the species is well known on and around Fort Cavazos. Springs along Salado Creek are home to the Salado salamander, which calls for extra care near spring areas.
Temple, Killeen, Belton and Harker Heights have their own development rules, and floodplain rules apply near the rivers and creeks. We follow oak wilt guidance on every job with oaks.