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		Greens Bayou Wetlands Mitigation Bank

		Home Buyout

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		Trails and Our Bayous

		Tree Planting Program

		TS-Allison Recovery Project

		Vegetation Management

		Watershed Environmental Baseline Program

Tree Planting Program

Vital to Our Mission, Vital to Our Infrastructure

Stand of old-growth trees on Buffalo Bayou, near Terry Hershey Park.

The District's mission, in its simplest terms, is to devise the Stormwater Management Plans, implement the plans and maintain the infrastructure, all with appropriate regard for community and natural values.

Trees play an integral role in fulfilling the elements of the District's mission. To that end, the District takes several approaches to trees in its right-of-way:

We Plant - The District plants trees to fulfill mitigation requirements, to enhance capital improvement projects, and as part of a routine maintenance program.

We Preserve - When possible, the District looks for ways to preserve significant trees on its right-of-way or to rescue moveable trees in advance of construction projects.

We Partner - The District works with individuals and organizations to plant trees in appropriate places on District right-of-way.

> View or download Trees and Our Bayous brochure

Tree Planting Makes Good Sense

Areas with healthy, mature tree canopies frequently have little or no undesirable underbrush or groundcover. By planting trees, the District plans to create mature tree canopies that shade out and prevent the growth of conveyance-hindering underbrush. The areas where there is little or no groundcover do not require frequent mowing or maintenance, conserving District resources.

Newly planted trees at The Hill at Sims Greenway stormwater detention basin along Sims Bayou. More than 10,000 trees were planted here.

Newly planted trees at The Hill at Sims Greenway stormwater detention basin along Sims Bayou. More than 10,000 trees were planted here.

Tree planting in non-conveyance areas such as stormwater detention basins, along natural channels, and upper ends of channels will allow the District to reduce the amount of acreage mowed by hundreds of acres annually. Of special importance are channel segments with limited, difficult, or dangerous access; reducing maintenance requirements on these segments is particularly valuable.

Benefits of Trees

Reforestation is a cost-effective means of reducing maintenance while providing a host of other benefits.

Other documented benefits include:

		Trees reduce the conveyance of silt into waterways, reducing the number of silt-removal operations that the District must undertake.
		Trees slow and reduce stormwater runoff; they improve and protect the quality of our water.
		Trees clean our air by reducing and filtering pollutants.
		Trees beautify our community and improve quality of life.
		Trees provide habitat for wildlife.

When trees are planted as part of new projects, the benefits are numerous, including greater slope integrity and less future maintainence.

Where the District Plants Trees

Potential tree planting sites are identified and screened using several criteria, including:

		Probability of developing a woodland ecosystem along channels that requires little maintenance (i.e., eventual elimination of mowing)
		Probability of tree survival at site
		Difficult or dangerous to access by conventional mowing equipment
		Type of current maintenance
		Upper ends of channels that are not needed for stormwater conveyance
		Stormwater detention basins that cannot be included in regular maintenance because of wet or soggy bottoms or that are dug to capacity

Since 2001, tens of thousands of trees have been planted on District right-of-way. Over 100,000 will be planted in the next ten years.

Facts About the District's Tree Planting Program
The District's tree planting program is extensive. Here are some facts:

		The South Service Center tree nursery can accommodate the growth of more than 25,000 hard-to-find trees for future plantings.
		Since 2001, tens of thousands of trees have been planted on District right-of-way.
		Within the next ten years, over 100,000 trees will have been grown and planted on District right-of-way.

Recent tree planting project at the Mason Creek extension

How to Plant a Tree on District Right-of-Way

The following set of procedures must be followed to ensure a smooth process:

Sponsor must submit a written request to plant trees to the Property Management Department of the District. Request should include a project description as well as a map showing the proposed location.

Sponsor must research property ownership information and obtain permission from the property owner before any trees may be planted. Permission, or a written lack of objection, must also be obtained from the District when the District has right-of-way. The District has limited property ownership information available.

Once preliminary approval has been obtained from the District, a planting plan must be approved by the District forester. The planting plan will include:

a.	Number, species, and size of trees
b.	Specific locations or spacing of trees
c.	Two year maintenance plan (should include watering, mulching, fertilizing and pruning plans)
d.	Date of planting

Modifications to the plan may be required.

If necessary, the District forester will arrange an on-site meeting to discuss the proposed planting.

72 hours in advance of planting, sponsor must contact the Utilities Coordination Committee at (800) 669-8344 to verify location of utilities.

Sponsor and all people helping to plant trees must sign a waiver provided by the District.

> Contact the District about volunteer tree planting