New amenities could be coming to The Woodlands Waterway if ultimately approved by the township's board of directors.[/caption]

The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau board heard about a number of potential new amenities for The Woodlands Waterway during its Feb. 3 meeting.

Proposed ideas range from pedal boats to whitewater rafting, but the township’s board of directors must approve any new amenities before they can be implemented on the Woodlands Waterway.

Pedal boats would be able to hold two or four people, which would cater to a four-person family not able to fit in one kayak, said Chris Nunes, township parks and recreation director. Although the township’s kayak program has been successful—there were 17,000 rentals at the Riva Row Boat House in 2015—the kayaks can only fit one or two individuals.

The township is also considering rowboats, which cost about $1,000 each and can hold two or four individuals.

“They would cater more to a leisure and recreational opportunity—people going fishing, having a picnic lunch or bird watching,” Nunes said.

There is also the potential for sailboats because of a new access point for water activities at Hughes Landing opening this spring.

“When we looked at [sailboats] in 2009 we stayed away because the base of operations was the [Riva Row] boathouse, and trying to propel a sailboat through a narrow channel would provide some challenge for even an experienced sailor,” Nunes said. “Now that we have more direct lake access with Hughes Landing and potentially the upper waterway, that would provide more access.”

The township is also considering how to improve the habitat for fishing on Lake Woodlands and the upper waterway.

“Fishing has seen tremendous growth in this community,” Nunes said. “There is a high school and junior high school fishing team that started off with six kids a couple years ago and now has well over 100.”

Other potential options include aqua golf and white water rafting.

“The state of Texas doesn’t have a long history with whitewater rafting, but it’s been successful in other areas,” Nunes said. “But if you have pumps and motors and rocks and obstacles it might be another option.”

However, The Woodlands Development Company may not allow all proposed activities, specifically the adventure options like whitewater rafting, in the upper basin of the Woodlands Waterway.