FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2015
HAYS CO. APPROVES PILOT PROJECT TO PLANT TREES ALONG BLANCO RIVER
TreeFolks will develop a reforestation plan to restore riparian forest along 80 mile stretch of Blanco River within Hays County
[Austin], [TX], September 15, 2015– Hays County voted unanimously to approve a contract with TreeFolks today, an Austin-based nonprofit group that plants trees throughout Central Texas. The contract directs TreeFolks to develop a reforestation plan and pilot project to plant trees along eighty miles of the Blanco River, deforested when a 40 foot wall of water swept down the river on May 25, 2015. TreeFolks will work with Hays County, private landowners, and other stakeholders to develop the Blanco River Reforestation Project. Through the contract, TreeFolks will offer its services free of charge to landowners in the Blanco River flood plain to restore the forests alongside the river, called the riparian forest.“A fully functioning riparian forest is critical for filtering storm water, slowing flood waters, shading the river, providing habitat for local wildlife, and beauty for Hays County residents that live along the river. Removal of that forest meant all those functions were removed along with it. If we respond quickly, we can speed up the recovery of the forest to restore a healthy river and to reduce future flooding and damage to property.” – Thaïs Perkins, Executive Director of TreeFolks
TreeFolks will model the Blanco River project on the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program. Since 2011, the organization has worked directly with private landowners in Bastrop County to reforest property that was burned in the Bastrop County Complex Fire that began on Labor Day back in 2010.
“TreeFolks services have been well received in Bastrop County and we’ve been moved by the outpouring of support and gratitude from the people whose lands we’ve helped to restore.” – Thaïs Perkins, Executive Director of TreeFolks
Hays County is currently funding an assessment phase, beginning on October 1st and ending May 31, 2016. The commissioners expressed the importance of developing a comprehensive plan for replanting trees and ensuring the health of the river for the greater good of Hays County residents and to minimize impacts of future flooding.
OUR MISSION: TreeFolks empowers Central Texans to build stronger communities through planting and caring for trees.
For more information about this issue, please contact Nina Hawkins at (512) 443-5323 or nina@treefolks.org.
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A PDF of this press release is available here: HAYS CO. APPROVES PILOT PROJECT TO PLANT TREES ALONG BLANCO RIVER.
