Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center

15315 Beaumont Highway (Business 90) @ Park Road 138
Houston, TX 77049
281-456-2800
sheldonlake@tpwd.state.tx.us

09/06/2011 - Due to low water levels caused by drought conditions, Sheldon Reservoir has been closed to all water craft until further notice.

History: Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center is a 2,800 acre outdoor education and recreation facility located in northeast Harris County. The park is split into two units: Sheldon Lake is accessible from Garrett and Pineland/Fauna roads and the Environmental Learning Center is accessible from Beaumont Highway. The reservoir levees encompass 1,200 acres, of which 800 are permanently inundated and 400 acres are marsh and swampland.

Sheldon Reservoir, located on Carpenter's Bayou, a tributary of Buffalo Bayou, was constructed in 1942 by the Federal government to provide water for war industries along the Houston Ship Channel. Texas Parks and Wildlife acquired the reservoir in 1952 and designated it as the Sheldon Wildlife Management Area; it was opened in 1955. Sheldon Lake was designated a state park in 1984.

Formerly in the "country," Sheldon Lake has survived a tremendous influx of urbanization over the past 50 years as Houston has grown. Sheldon Lake is now a green and blue "oasis" for wildlife and people on the edge of Texas' largest city.

Activities: Primary activities at the Lake Unit are fishing, and wildlife observation. Sheldon Lake is open everyday to public fishing with appropriate licenses. Boats must not exceed headway speed while operating on the lake and may be launched at the south boat ramp on Pineland Road. Bank fishing is permitted year round from three T-piers along the west and south levees or the parking lot on Garrett Road.

Activities at the Environmental Learning Center include group programming, birding, wildlife/nature study and fishing for children. The Learning Center (open every day 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving & Christmas with extended hours till 7 p.m. on weekends April - October) includes a 1/2 mile self-guided nature trail that passes 28 naturalized ponds which contain alligators and other wildlife. (Binoculars are recommended for best viewing). Free catch-and-release "Family Fishing" is permitted on Saturdays and Sundays only, for children accompanied by adults, in the two fishing ponds. Alternative energy technologies and green building techniques (photovoltaic, solar hot water, wind turbine, & ground coupled geothermal) are demonstrated at the Learning Center. A Wildscape demonstration garden shows techniques to use native plants and wildflowers that attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife to your backyard. A composting demonstration area shows easy means of "recycling" household leaves and grass.

• A Guide to Alternative Energy and Green Building at Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center (PDF 488.4 KB)

Tours/Programs: The Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center (15315 Beaumont Highway @ Park Road 138) offers a variety of nature and ecology programs to organized groups on a reservation basis. Park staff and volunteers provide programs on nature/ecology, nature walks, catch-and-release fishing in two stocked ponds (fishing poles provided), pond ecology, native plant gardening, hunter education, composting and recycling. Programs range in time from 1-2 hours each. Without special arrangements, group size is limited to 50 children. Teachers and chaperones must accompany the group in at least a 1 to 10 ratio. More educational field trip information.

• Interpretive Guide to Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center (PDF 1.7 MB)
• Check the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next 3 months.
• More Information on outdoor activities from the Experience Texas page.

Volunteer: For information on Volunteer opportunities at Sheldon Lake contact the park at 281-456-2800 or visit the Friends of Sheldon Lake State Park. Go to the Volunteer Opportunities page for information on the many volunteering options available at State Parks & Historic Sites.

Area Attractions: Nearby attractions include the San Jacinto Battleground Historic Complex which consists of the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, the San Jacinto Monument, and the Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site; Other nearby attractions are Lake Houston Park; NASA Space Center; Mercer Arboretum; Houston Zoological Gardens; and the Houston Museum District.

Facilities: Current Construction and Proposed Future Facilities: Texas voters approved $2.58 million in bonds for Sheldon Lake to develop the old fishery pond area into an outdoor pond area classroom complex along with accessible nature trails for school and scout programs. This work, which was completed in 2005, entails a Pond Area that includes a Pond Center, Pond Plaza, Aquatic Study Stations, habitat restoration and recreational facilities

Future plans include proposed designs for a Visitor Learning Center along with cabins and camping area facilities which are currently unfunded. These facilities are designed to accommodate teachers who will attend environmental education seminars and learning sessions on site so the amenities at Sheldon can be made a part of their classroom curriculum. Read more about current construction and proposed future facilities.

• Map of Park (PDF 565.2 KB)
• Map of interpretive trails and facilities (PDF 153.7 KB)

Natural Features: Park vegetation consists of a variety of grasses, woody plants, and trees such as oak, pine, cypress, sycamore and others typical of the Houston area. Marsh, lake and ponds contain a wide variety of water plants including several types of flowering water lilies. Typical animal life includes deer, raccoon, opossum, rabbit and alligator. More than twenty species of ducks and geese, other waterfowl and occasionally bald eagles and osprey are present mainly during winter months. Heron and egret rookeries are visible on the barrier islands along Pineland/Fauna roads during March-June.

• Birds of Sheldon Lake SP and Environmental Learning Center: A Field Checklist (PDF 533.7 KB)

More information on Wildlife mentioned here:

• Texas Wildlife Factsheets.

Elevation: Elevation ranges from 41 to 50 feet.
Weather: Average annual rainfall is 42.6 inches. January average low is 46 degrees. July average high is 93 degrees. National Weather Service forecast for this area.

• National Weather Service forecast for this area.

Schedule:The Environmental Learning Center is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; with extended hours Saturday - Sunday till 7 p.m. April thru October. The lake and its banks and levees are open every day from dawn to dusk. Check the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next 3 months.

Directions: Park headquarters is located at the Learning Center at 15315 Beaumont Highway (Business 90), 2 miles east of Beltway 8 or 2 miles west of Sheldon Road at Park Road 138.

• Heading northbound on Beltway 8 proceed under the overpass of US 90 (Crosby Freeway) for one-quarter-of-a-mile and take "JCT 90 (Business)" exit. Turn right on Business 90 (Beaumont Highway) and head east for two miles to Park Road 138. Look for the flag pole on the north side of the road. There is also a brown highway sign on the right. Turn left over the railroad tracks to the park entrance.
• Heading southbound on Beltway 8 turn left and head east on Garrett Rd. for one-half-mile to Fauna. Turn right and head south on Fauna which will change it's name to Pineland. On your left will be the Sheldon Lake levee. After two-and-a-half miles cross over the railroad tracks to a stop light. Turn left at the traffic light onto Business 90 (Beaumont Highway) for one mile to Park Road 138. Look for the flag pole on the north side of the road. There is also a brown highway sign on the right. Turn left over the railroad tracks to the park entrance.
  

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