South Woodland Project: The Billie Eilish Grove

Location: A 6,000-square-foot area along a walking trail on the south side of Barton Springs, Zilker Park, near Azie Morton Boulevard

Status: Complete

Overview

This project restored native woodland along a heavily used trail on the south side of Barton Springs, a site chosen for its location within the recharge zone of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Zilker Park sits almost entirely within this recharge zone, which supplies drinking water to roughly 600,000 people and feeds Barton Springs Pool itself. With the aquifer's watershed currently in only its second Stage 3 drought on record, maximizing infiltration on sites like this one has taken on added urgency.

The project supports Zilker 351's Ecological Health priorities: protecting water quality, building climate resilience, and expanding native canopy in one of Austin's most visited public spaces.

What We Did

• Built soil berms and vegetated swales to slow and filter stormwater runoff from Azie Morton Boulevard before it reaches Barton Creek
• Planted native canopy and understory trees, including cedar elm, Texas red oak, and Mexican plum, in a tree motte formation that mimics naturally occurring Hill Country clustering patterns
• Installed a temporary gravity-fed irrigation system connected to a refillable water cistern to support the trees through establishment
• Partnered with TreeFolks, American Forests, and the City of Austin's Urban Forest program on planting and installation

Results

• 85% tree survival rate
• 140 native trees established, extending shade closer to the trail and cooling the area through transpiration, which can lower local temperatures by up to 10°F
• Berms and swales are actively slowing and filtering runoff, reducing erosion and supporting aquifer infiltration at a site that sits directly within the Barton Springs recharge zone

This grove carries a name with a story behind it. REVERB, a nonprofit that partners with touring musicians on environmental initiatives, facilitated a $20,000 gift from musician Billie Eilish to fund the planting. In recognition of that support, we are calling the site the Billie Eilish Grove, a distinctive addition to Zilker Park's ongoing woodland restoration.

As the trees mature, the motte clusters are expected to expand and connect into a continuous canopy, sequestering carbon, supporting bird and pollinator habitat, and protecting Barton Creek and Barton Springs for decades to come.