For Immediate Release
Héctor González, Communications Strategy Manager, TreeFolks
Email: hector@treefolks.org | office: 512-575-2870 | cell: 512-903-4253
New reforestation effort will support damaged creek and river corridors in parts of Travis, Williamson, and Burnet counties
Austin, TX – May 4, 2026 – TreeFolks is moving forward with Rooted in Recovery, a post-disaster reforestation effort designed to help communities recover trees lost in the July 4, 2025 floods. The program provides no-cost restoration services to eligible landowners in Travis, Williamson, and Burnet counties whose riparian areas, streambanks, or floodplain forests were damaged by the flooding.
Through Rooted in Recovery, TreeFolks provides native trees and plants selected for Central Texas floodplain conditions, professional planting services, site assessments, restoration planning, technical guidance, and post-planting support. Planting plans typically use 400 to 500 saplings per acre and at least 10 native species, tailored to each site’s needs.
This work is about more than replacing what was lost. Restoring creekside forests helps stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion, slow floodwaters, improve water quality, and rebuild habitat for wildlife. Rooted in Recovery is designed to help damaged landscapes recover in ways that also make communities more resilient over time.
“Recovery is not only about what gets cleared away. It is also about what we choose to grow back,” said Andrew Smiley, Executive Director of TreeFolks. “With Rooted in Recovery, we are helping communities restore trees, strengthen waterways, and invest in a healthier future for the places they call home.”
TreeFolks brings deep experience to this work. The organization has led reforestation after the 2011 Bastrop County wildfires and the 2015 Blanco River floods. In Bastrop alone, TreeFolks and its partners had planted more than 2 million pines across nearly 4,000 acres by 2017, while also distributing another 100,000 seedlings to the broader community.
That experience continues to shape TreeFolks’ approach today: long-term stewardship, locally informed restoration, and practical support for landowners working to rebuild healthier creek and river corridors after disaster. Rooted in Recovery focuses on helping flood-impacted areas recover with stronger natural defenses and healthier waterways for the future.
Landowners interested in learning more about Rooted in Recovery can visit the TreeFolks website for program details and eligibility information.
How to Get Involved
TreeFolks invites individuals and businesses to visit our treefolks.org/rootedinrecovery to learn more about the extent of our recovery efforts.
About TreeFolks
TreeFolks empowers Central Texans to build stronger communities through planting and caring for trees. Since its founding, TreeFolks has engaged thousands of volunteers, planted hundreds of thousands of trees, and advanced a more resilient future for Central Texas communities and landscapes.
Photo credit: Erika Rich
