The City of Boerne’s recovery efforts entered a new phase along Cibolo Creek in mid-September, two months after historic flooding swept through Boerne and southern Kendall County.
The City of Boerne Parks and Recreation crews have transitioned from the immediate work needed to reopen parks, trails, and green spaces to longer-term cleanup and restoration following the July 15 flood.
“The first priority following the flood was making sure we could safely reopen our parks and trails and restore access to these spaces for the community,” Parks and Recreation Director Lissette Jimenez said. “Now we can turn our attention to the longer-term work, which will take place over several months, and requires caring for the creek corridor, removing trees that cannot be saved, and planning how we restore the areas that were most heavily impacted.”
Residents and visitors will see crews and large equipment working along Cibolo Creek in downtown Boerne. They will remove debris impacting the water flow along the creek on the City-maintained public right of way. The work is expected to take approximately seven to 10 days.
The Cibolo Trail will remain open during the cleanup, but pedestrians are asked to use caution when approaching active work areas and give crews and equipment plenty of space to safely complete their work.
The downtown work follows extensive cleanup and repairs at Boerne City Lake and other City parks and green spaces impacted by the flooding.
The July 15 flood brought in extensive debris while uprooting or severely damaging numerous large cypress trees and other tree species along Cibolo Creek. Parks and Recreation staff and the City’s environmental program manager evaluated the creek corridor to identify those damaged beyond recovery or that could present a safety concern.
“This recovery has required our teams to look at both what needed to happen immediately and what will be needed months and even years from now,” Assistant City Manager Kristy Stark said. “Our parks and creek corridors are an important part of what makes Boerne special, and we want to approach their restoration thoughtfully, so these spaces remain healthy, safe, and enjoyable for future generations.”
In the coming months, Parks and Recreation staff will assess the areas that experienced the greatest tree loss, remove the impacted trees, and develop a schedule for replanting along Cibolo Creek in downtown Boerne. At the same time, crews will fill in areas of soil that were impacted by the flood or the subsequent cleanup.
The replanting effort will allow the City to take a deliberate approach to restoring the creek corridor while considering appropriate tree species, site conditions, and the long-term health of the area.
