Fire ravaged the park in 2011. (File)

BASTROP (July 27,2012)—State and county officials are wondering how to pay for restoration of Bastrop State Park, which was heavily scarred by a massive and deadly wildfire last year.

On Thursday State Sen. Kirk Watson, Bastrop County Judge Jim Wither and Commissioner Toby Baker of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality toured the park where experts say competing species are threatening to overtake the Lost Pines forest.

Greg Creacy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the agency has run out of restoration money.

Creacy told the Austin American-Statesman that it has already cost more than $2 million in capital improvement funds to remove hazardous trees and do erosion repairs.

Watson said lawmakers must make sure that professionals have the resources to preserve the forest.

Members of the Lost Pines Recovery Team are trying to raise more than $17 million to support restoration efforts.