Last month, our restoration team partnered with local volunteers to tackle one of our most ambitious projects yet: reclaiming a severely degraded section of the Chattahoochee River watershed from invasive kudzu and replanting it with native flora.
The site had been overtaken by kudzu, an aggressive vine that smothers native plants and destabilizes riverbanks. Over the past decade, this two-mile stretch had lost nearly 80% of its native tree cover, leading to increased erosion and declining water quality.
Our Approach
We divided the restoration into three phases. First, we carefully removed the kudzu using manual cutting and targeted herbicide application—a process that took two weeks and over 150 volunteer hours. Next, we planted 2,000 native saplings including river birch, sycamore, and sweetgum, all species that naturally thrive in riparian zones.
Early Wins
Six weeks after planting, we're seeing a 92% survival rate among our saplings. Even more encouraging, we've already spotted several bird species that hadn't been seen here in years, including a nesting pair of great blue herons.
This project is a long-term commitment. Over the next three years, we'll continue monitoring the site and eventually expand our work to adjacent river sections. Interested in joining our next planting day? We meet every third Saturday—no experience necessary.
Tags: kudzu removal, native trees, Chattahoochee River, habitat restoration, volunteer opportunities