The Woodlands Edition | April 2025

BY JESSICA SHORTEN

Diving in deeper

Some context

for destroying around 860 of the 7,098 trees that had to be removed in 2024, while a previously unknown widespread invasive beetle infestation also caused a weakening of trees. “Before the droughts and the freezes in 2023 and such, ... the average was about 800 trees a year that we would take down,” McGowan said. Several board members said during the March 20 board meeting that the township will begin looking into county and nonprot partnerships to help fund tree maintenance. “In the recent past, drivers didn’t need a sign to know they were in The Woodlands. They experienced The Woodlands as they were enveloped by trees lining the roadways. Today, the medians and rights of way are threatened by dead and missing trees, occlusive vines, and naked intersections,” board member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said. “We have to intensify our eorts to restore our natural forest.”

Nunes said the township has already taken steps to improve trees’ survival such as increasing the number of waterings per year for all young trees from ve to 30 times. The township brought watering operations in house by purchasing its own water irrigation systems and vehicles to slowly accommodate the additional water cost. However, weather uctuations such as droughts, hurricanes and wind storms have caused a slight decline in survivability, Nunes said. “Younger trees are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather uctuations during their establishment period, while mature trees face stress from aging root systems and disease,” Nunes said. “Additionally, storm-related damage from high winds pose a challenge to both types of trees.” Director of Parks and Recreation John McGowan said Hurricane Beryl was responsible

Since 2023, The Woodlands area has been subjected to multiple severe weather events which have impacted reforestation eorts: 2023: 5,775 new trees planted, 5,391 lost • Aug. 1: Montgomery County declared under “signi¤icant” drought status • Oct. 1: Township fall reforestation efforts begin • Nov. 30: Severe drought conditions lifted • Dec. 31: Township fall reforestation efforts end 2024: 5,187 new trees planted, 7,098 trees lost • Jan. 14-17: Hard freeze and winter storm • March 28: Township spring reforestation efforts begin • May 16: Greater Houston area hit with derecho, tornadoes • May 31: Township spring reforestation efforts end • July 8: Hurricane Beryl landfall • Sept. 15: Drought conditions reinstated countywide • Oct. 1: Township fall reforestation efforts begin • Dec. 31: Township fall reforestation efforts end

SOURCES: MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIPCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking ahead

To report a hazardous tree within The Woodlands, residents can reach out to the township or county depending on the location. In local parks and open reserve space The Woodlands Township: 281-210-3800 Along roadways and in rights of ways Montgomery County, Precinct 3: 281-367-3977 Harris County, Precinct 4 (Village of Creekside Park): 281-353-8424

and invasive vine management e«orts during the 2025 budget workshops being held in August, as opposed to the prior funding of $1 million annually. “This amount may not be needed every year, but recent storms, droughts and development have created an arboreal crisis. It is our duty to preserve The Woodlands and that means preserving the trees,” Sekula-Gibbs said.

Nunes said March 26 the rst o¨cial update to the township’s Integrated Forestry Management Plan since 2013 is nearly completed, and it will go before the board at a future meeting this summer. The plan governs best practices for maintaining the township’s wooded areas. Sekula-Gibbs said she will also request the township invest $2 million into reforestation

SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIPCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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