Rooted in Recovery: Post-Flood Streamside Restoration

Supporting flood-impacted communities to restore healthy streamside forests and protect local waterways.

Overview

The July 4, 2025, flood brought heartbreaking loss to Central Texas. Lives were lost, families were changed forever, and entire communities were left carrying grief that will not quickly fade. In the midst of recovery, it is important to remember that this work is first and foremost about people: about honoring those affected, supporting communities as they heal, and helping care for the places that hold so many memories.

The flood also had a devastating impact on the natural environment. Particularly affected were riparian corridors—the vegetated strips of land along creeks, streams, and rivers—across Central Texas. Floodwaters uprooted mature trees, destabilized streambanks, and left properties more vulnerable to future flood damage.

TreeFolks’ Rooted in Recovery program provides post-disaster restoration services at no cost to landowners to help rebuild healthier, more resilient creek and river corridors. Through this initiative, eligible landowners receive complimentary native trees, professional planting services, site assessments, and technical support to restore damaged floodplain forests that can better withstand future extreme weather events.

We partner with landowners who are committed to long-term stewardship of their restored creek corridors, working together to accelerate ecological recovery and protect our shared Central Texas watersheds—all at no cost to participating landowners.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Rooted in Recovery program, your property must meet all of the following criteria:

Location
Your property must be located in Travis, Williamson, or Burnet County. Unfortunately, our service range does not currently extend to other flood-affected counties.

Flood Impact
Your property must have sustained damage from the July 4th, 2025, floods to riparian areas, streambanks, or floodplain forests.

Land Use
There can be no grazing animals (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, etc.) in areas designated for reforestation activities, as livestock can damage or destroy young trees.

Grow Zones
Landowners must be willing to create Grow Zones in restoration areas to allow trees and native vegetation to establish and mature. Grow zones allow vegetation to grow naturally and help create the healthiest, most resilient creek corridors with the strongest streambank stabilization and ecological benefits for your property.

Stewardship Mindset
We seek landowners who are interested in caring for and protecting their restored creek corridors over time. Allowing nature to take its course with minimal disturbance and intervention is one of the best recovery methods. This program helps boost recovery by adding species variety and jump-starting woody vegetation. While not a legal obligation, successful restoration depends on landowners who value their trees as a long-term investment in their property’s health and resilience.

Application Timeline

Apply by April 18th
Applications are accepted year-round; however, to be considered for planting in the current calendar, applications must be submitted by April 18th. Applications received after the deadline will be added to our waitlist for the following year.

Partner Selection
Final landowner partner selections for this year will be made by May 9th. TreeFolks will prioritize applications based on greatest need and other factors. If your property is not selected for the current year due to program capacity or site conditions, your application may be considered for the following year’s planting cycle.

What We Provide – At no cost to landowners

Rooted in Recovery offers comprehensive restoration support at no cost to eligible landowners:

  • Native trees and plants specifically selected for Central Texas floodplain conditions and adapted to withstand periodic flooding. We typically plant 400-500 saplings per acre using at least 10 native species selected for your specific site conditions.
  • Groasis Waterboxx® technology on approximately 10% of planted trees. These innovative water-harvesting devices are placed around young saplings to collect rainwater and dew, slowly releasing moisture to developing roots while shielding soil from evaporation and maintaining stable temperatures. The Waterboxxes help ensure strong establishment during the critical first year, especially in exposed or challenging planting sites. Learn more about this technology at groasis.com.
  • Professional planting services by our experienced restoration crew to ensure proper tree placement and establishment
  • Site assessments and restoration planning by TreeFolks’ restoration specialists to evaluate flood damage, erosion patterns, and restoration potential
  • Technical guidance on streambank stabilization techniques, vegetation management, and best practices for floodplain stewardship
  • Post-planting support, including survival monitoring, maintenance recommendations, and ongoing technical assistance

Our Process

  1. Application Review: After you submit your application, our staff will evaluate your property’s flood damage, restoration needs, and program eligibility.
  2. Site Visit: For eligible properties, we’ll schedule an on-site assessment to walk your creek corridor, discuss restoration goals, and develop a customized planting plan.
  3. Restoration Plan: We’ll design a restoration strategy tailored to your property’s unique conditions, prioritizing the most severely damaged or vulnerable areas.
  4. Planting: Our crew will plant native trees and shrubs during the optimal planting season (typically early winter) to maximize survival and establishment.
  5. Stewardship: We’ll provide guidance on watering, monitoring, and protecting your young trees, and stay in touch to support your restoration’s long-term success.

Healthy Waterways

Riparian corridors are the green zones along both sides of creeks and rivers where water meets land—nature’s buffer system between waterways and uplands. Restoring these corridors after catastrophic flooding isn’t just about replacing lost trees—it’s about rebuilding the living infrastructure that protects your property and our shared water resources.

Streambank Stabilization

Native tree and shrub root systems act as natural reinforcement, binding soil and preventing erosion that can undercut banks and threaten structures during future floods.

Landscape Resilience

Healthy floodplain forests slow floodwaters, absorb excess runoff, and reduce downstream flooding by creating friction and temporary storage in the landscape.

Water Quality Protection

Riparian vegetation filters pollutants, nutrients, and sediment before they reach creeks and rivers, protecting drinking water sources and downstream aquatic ecosystems.

Wildlife Habitat

Creek corridors serve as critical habitat and movement corridors for birds, pollinators, fish, and other wildlife that depend on healthy riparian ecosystems.

Climate Resilience

Established riparian forests are more resilient to extreme weather events than recently cleared or degraded streambanks, helping your landscape adapt to future droughts and floods.

Property Value

Well-vegetated creek corridors enhance property aesthetics, provide shade and cooling, reduce maintenance requirements, and protect land from ongoing erosion.

Investing in riparian restoration now means faster ecological recovery, stronger natural defenses, and healthier waterways for generations to come.

Apply Today

Ready to restore your waterway? This is a no-obligation application designed simply to help us understand the extent of flood damage on your property and assess initial restoration potential. Submitting an application does not commit you to participating in the program—it’s just a first step so we can learn about your site and determine if it’s a good fit.

Our team will review your application and follow up with the next steps and potential restoration options tailored to your property’s unique conditions. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and decide if the program is right for you before any work begins.

Questions about the program or application process? Contact us at reforestation@treefolks.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there really no cost to participate?

Yes, the Rooted Recovery program is completely free for eligible landowners. There are no hidden fees, no required contributions, and no cost-sharing. TreeFolks covers 100% of program expenses, including all trees and plants, professional planting labor, Groasis Waterboxx® technology, site assessments, restoration planning, and ongoing technical support. Our goal is to remove financial barriers so that flood-impacted landowners can restore their creek corridors and protect their properties from future damage.

How is this program free?

We understand this might sound too good to be true—we hear that a lot, and we take it as a compliment! Here’s the simple reason it’s free: healthy waterways are a regional priority, not just a personal one. When your creek or river is healthy, it benefits everyone downstream— improving water quality, reducing flood risk, and supporting wildlife across Central Texas.

That’s why this program is funded through a combination of federal, state, and local grants, conservation partnerships, and TreeFolks’ 30+ year base of private donors who are committed to ecological restoration across the region. These funding sources recognize that investing in riparian restoration protects critical infrastructure, improves public water resources, and builds community resilience against future flooding events.

There’s no catch and no hidden fees. If you are interested in enrolling your property in our Carbon+ Credit program, it would contribute to future program revenue and the long-term protection of the trees we plant on your property. Otherwise, all we ask is that you care about the health of your waterway—and if you’re reading this, you probably already do.

When will planting occur?

Planting typically takes place in early winter (typically December), when cooler temperatures and seasonal rainfall give young trees the best chance of survival.

How many trees will I receive?

The number of trees depends on your property’s size, the extent of flood damage, and restoration goals. We typically plant 400-500 saplings per acre using a diverse mix of at least 10 native species. During the site assessment, we’ll develop a planting plan specific to your needs.

What types of trees will be planted?

We plant young, native Central Texas species adapted to floodplain conditions, such as bald cypress, sycamore, pecan, cedar elm, bur oak, black willow, buttonbush, false indigo, and others suited to riparian environments. Species selection depends on your site’s soil, hydrology, and existing vegetation. Every year, we plant approximately 40 native species from local seed stock that we use when designing each site’s planting plan. Learn more about our TreeFolks Nursery initiative here.

Do I need to water the trees?

We do not require landowners to water or mulch the trees we plant. However, if you have the capacity to provide supplemental watering—especially during the first two years and particularly during drought periods—it can significantly boost survival and growth rates for young trees.

What if I have livestock?

Properties with grazing animals are not eligible for areas where livestock have access, as animals can damage or kill young trees. If you have fenced areas or can commit to excluding livestock from restoration zones, you may still qualify.

My property is in Kerr County. Can I participate?

Unfortunately, Kerr County falls outside our current service area. We’re focusing resources on Travis, Williamson, and Burnet counties, where we have established restoration capacity and partnerships. Reach out to the San Antonio Botanical Garden to learn more about their TREE (Texas Recovery for Ecological and Environmental Stability) program to find out if you qualify for restoration services.

I cleaned up flood debris, but removed some trees. Can I still apply?

Yes. Many landowners needed to clear flood debris and damaged vegetation for safety reasons. This program is designed to help replant areas that lost vegetation due to both the flood itself and necessary cleanup activities.

What is my responsibility as a landowner?

We ask that you commit to protecting and caring for the planted trees, which may mean excluding livestock, protecting the trees from mowing equipment and herbicide damage, and allowing the restoration area to develop into a mature riparian forest over time.

Why are Grow Zones required in the restoration area?

Mowing equipment and other disturbances, such as vehicle use and grazing, can easily damage or kill young trees and prevent natural understory vegetation from establishing. Allowing your riparian buffer to grow naturally creates a healthier, more diverse ecosystem that better protects your streambank and water quality. Grow zones provide the greatest ecological benefit and the strongest natural defense against future flooding.

How long does the application process take?

After you submit your application, our team will review it within 2-3 weeks and contact you about the next steps. Applications received after the April 18th deadline will be contacted as early as January of the following year. Site visits and planting timelines vary based on seasonal conditions and program demand.

In Partnership With

Funded in Part by

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