AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Pflugerville is recruiting volunteers to help replenish the tree canopy of three neighborhoods this fall and spring.
The city announced Thursday it’s planting at least 335 native trees in the Windermere (south of Gilleland Creek), Watson Park and Hillside Springs areas to increase total tree canopy and mitigate the heat island.
Pflugerville Urban Pforester Dave Madden said in a city news release that 51% of residents in these neighborhoods didn’t have a tree or had a declining tree in the front yard.
“Our urban canopy has taken a big hit during the last few years,” Madden said, in part, in a statement. “We’ve experienced damaging winter storms, record-breaking heat and severe drought conditions that have caused a decline in tree health and increase of tree mortality.”
The city added amid Pflugerville’s rapid growth, developments tend to remove trees more quickly than they are replaced.
The project is funded by a $150,000 grant to be used over a few years, according to the city. The grant is part of the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and the Arbor Day Foundation.
When and how to volunteer
Volunteers and graduates of Citizen Pforesters will lead the project. There will be two planting days in the fall and two in the spring. The goal is to plant 20-50 trees each session, according to the city.
The first planting dates will be Nov. 2 and Dec. 7. Anyone ready to sign up for a tree or volunteer on the planting days can visit the city’s website and fill out the volunteer form.