The Environmental Conservation Commission on Oct. 7 reviewed nominations for the town's tree-recognition program and discussed community outreach tied to the Acorns-to-Oaks planting initiative.

The recognition program, begun in 2013, highlights notable trees and gives certificate and yard-sign awards. Staff measured two nominations this year: a bald cypress in the Bridal Wood area (about 24.5 inches DBH, 39-foot height and 30-foot canopy spread) and an American elm near the community garden (about 43 inches DBH, 68-foot height, 57-foot canopy). Staff said awards will be handed out at the commission's November meeting and winners will receive a certificate and a yard sign.

Commission member Alton (speaking in the open-subcommittee reports) described plans for the Acorns-to-Oaks program and community engagement: the town has purchased roughly 300 small post-oak seedlings for giveaways and plantings, and a public presentation and seedling distribution is planned for Jan. 22 at the Flower Mound Library. Alton said volunteers will track transplant success and will offer residents instructions on planting and protecting saplings. He emphasized the ecological role of post oaks for local wildlife and called for local replanting to replace the species being lost.

Staff confirmed that the seedlings will be available at the library event and that staff will include planting guidance; they also said replacement-tree procurement is limited by nursery availability and order size, and noted that larger specimen replacement trees can be harder to source.

The commission also discussed practical care and survival topics raised by members: how mitigation material (cut trees) is handled (staff said material is typically chipped and hauled off site, though some projects have reused mulch on site), volunteer monitoring for transplants, and the need for public outreach to avoid accidental removal of volunteer saplings. Claire Harris, who spoke during public comment, urged the commission to continue protecting mature trees: "We have to keep fighting for these trees," she said.

No formal policy changes were approved at the Oct. 7 meeting; staff will present the recognition awards in November and proceed with the January public giveaway and planting outreach.