Restoring the Guadalupe

By Michael Eason, VP of Conservation and Collections

When the July 4, 2025, flood swept through the Texas Hill Country, the landscape and the lives of so many were forever altered. The Guadalupe River—famous for its towering Bald cypress-lined banks—lost much of its canopy and stability. In some areas, over ninety percent of mature trees were destroyed. The damage went beyond scenery; it was an ecological and cultural loss that reverberated throughout the region.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden quickly recognized both the need and the opportunity to lead a restoration effort grounded in science, collaboration, and community action. From that vision, the TREES Initiative—Texas Recovery for Ecological and Environmental Stability—was established to help heal the Guadalupe and its tributaries.

A Vision Rooted in Restoration

The Garden team turned devastation into determination, launching an initiative that channels the Garden’s conservation expertise and expansive horticultural network toward a singular mission: restoring the native tree cover stripped from the Guadalupe River’s riparian corridors.

By using only locally collected seed from the Guadalupe River watershed, TREES ensures that every new generation of trees maintains the unique genetic characteristics of Hill Country populations—preserving both ecological function and regional identity. This locally focused approach aligns with global best practices in plant conservation and ecological restoration, emphasizing adaptation, resilience, and biodiversity.

The TREES Initiative will gather, grow, and plant more than 50,000 native trees along the Guadalupe River and its watershed.

From Seed to Seedling to Riparian Woodlands

Over the next three years, the TREES Initiative will gather, grow, and plant more than 50,000 native trees along the Guadalupe River and its watershed. The main target species are the dominant canopy trees, including Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), Ash (Fraxinus spp.), Black Willow (Salix nigra), and Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muhlenbergii).

Secondary target species include other tree species, such as Soapberry (Sapindus drummondii) and Pecan (Carya illinoinensis), as well as understory plants such as Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), Walnut (Juglans nigra), and Button-bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis).

The process began with wild seed collection during the fall of 2025, carefully timed to coincide with natural fruiting cycles. Michael Eason, Vice President of Conservation and Collections, oversees the seed collection program, ensuring it follows established conservation protocols. No more than twenty percent of available seed is gathered from any one site, protecting the integrity of existing tree populations and ensuring continued regeneration. Each collection is documented to maintain full provenance, providing traceability for all future plantings.

Volunteers began cleaning seeds in the fall, and we continue to host seed cleaning sessions now through March 2026, held on Mondays. Throughout the project, TREES Inititative volunteer opportunities will align with the seasonal needs of the three-year project, from seed collecting and processing to planting and after-care. Learn more about volunteering by visiting sabgtx.org/trees.

Collected seed is transported to the San Antonio Botanical Garden for processing and cleaning, where it is prepared for distribution to partner nurseries. Under Andrew Labay’s guidance, these nurseries will germinate and grow the seedlings to planting size, usually in plugs or one-gallon containers. This partnership model increases propagation capacity while ensuring that each plant maintains accurate source documentation.

Planting and Stewardship

By the winters of 2026 and 2027, the first seedlings will be ready for outplanting along prioritized stretches of the Guadalupe. Site selection is based on ecological needs—focusing on erosion control, canopy recovery, long-term watershed stabilization, and access for aftercare.

The planting phase will be volunteer-led, involving community members, landowners, and conservation partners in hands-on restoration work. Participants will receive training on proper planting and maintenance techniques to improve survival rates. Besides restoring canopy cover, these activities will strengthen soil stability, enhance water quality, and create essential habitat for wildlife.

The Garden will also coordinate long-term monitoring to evaluate success, including tracking seedling survival, canopy recovery, and habitat use over time. The data will inform adaptive management strategies and ensure that restoration goals are achieved sustainably. Trained volunteers will assist and, in some cases, lead monitoring efforts during the years following the initial plantings.

Science, Education, and Community Engagement

At its heart, the TREES Initiative serves as a model for community-based conservation. It combines professional expertise with public participation, enabling individuals to directly support the ecological recovery of one of Texas’ most valued waterways.

The program’s outreach component will include training workshops on conservation seed collection, propagation, and planting best practices, equipping volunteers and local partners with the knowledge to support similar efforts. By fostering understanding of native ecosystems and conservation methods, TREES aims to not only restore trees but also promote long-term environmental stewardship across the Hill Country.

Partnerships for a Living Legacy

The TREES Initiative is supported by a broad coalition of partners, including the Hill Country Alliance, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Forest Service, Schreiner University, Hill Country Conservancy, Native Plant Society of Texas, Riverside Nature Center, City of Kerrville, Kerr County Water Alliance, TreeFolks, and numerous local nurseries and landowners.

By 2028, tens of thousands of young trees will once again line the banks of the Guadalupe River. Each tree symbolizes progress toward recovery—an investment in the resilience of the Hill Country landscape and the communities that rely on it.