The Woodland Township has begun implementation of its tree reforestation program following last year's devastating drought that left more than 52,000 of the trees in the community dead.

In September, the township approved a $191,683 contract with Texas Tree Depot and Boone's Landscaping to plant 1,350 30-gallon trees throughout The Woodlands, primarily behind houses in order to create a buffer between homes and roadways.

The purchase includes 450 white oaks, 450 green ashes, 225 sycamores and 225 elms.

John Powers, township assistant general manager for community services, provided the township board of directors with two plans. The second plan focused on purchasing more small to mid-sized trees and saplings.

"We believe in the use of larger container trees as opposed to smaller saplings," Powers said.

The board had the option of utilizing about $380,000 on a program that would have planted about 13,000 smaller trees, but the township could be facing more costs for additional tree removal.

Director Gordy Bunch said the idea of planting larger trees, as opposed to smaller ones, is to patch some of the bare spots in the community's forested sections and "get The Woodlands looking like The Woodlands."

Township General Manager Don Norrell said about 3,000 dead trees still need to be removed from township property.

According to a report by American Forest Management, which conducted a "forest audit" earlier this year, 16 percent of the 1.8 million trees in The Woodlands died as a result of last year's drought. The township removed about 16,000 trees through the summer and continue their tree removal program.