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The Woodlands' lakes and ponds

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Matt Stephens

2 min read

Published December 11, 2013 at 12:00 a.m. CT

Photo by Illustration by Jackie Brunk

There are 48 ponds and two lakes within The Woodlands. Of the 383 total acres of water from the ponds and lakes, 202 acres are contained within Lake Woodlands. The community's lakes and ponds were planned as part of The Woodlands' drainage and retention system, meaning they receive most of their water from storm water.

1. Before October and November, nearly all the lakes and ponds were well below their normal water levels. Following the rains, about 40 of the 48 ponds were at their regular level and the remainder were well more than 50 percent above their normal level. Despite rain received in recent months, the region is still 6 to 7 inches below the normal annual precipitation level as of November.

2. When the region receives little rain, The Woodlands Township resorts to other methods to keep the water levels above safe levels for the ecosystems within the ponds. Nine of the ponds have shallow water wells within the Chico Aquifer, wells that are governed by the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District. The Woodlands is permitted to use 9 million gallons from those wells, not enough to fill the ponds entirely. Once those ponds fall to 50 percent of their normal levels, township staff fills the ponds up to 75 percent the normal level and maintains the ponds at those levels.

3. The remaining ponds that do not have water wells have a portable water meter that can pump water used by the 11 MUDs within The Woodlands. However, the cost of using the water is prohibitive, so the meters are only used to maintain the integrity of the pond structures to avoid catastrophic loss of the ecosystems.

4. Of the 48 ponds, 23 have fountains. Although the fountains are mostly aesthetic, they help aerate the water for the wildlife within the ponds, particularly within smaller ponds. However, the best aeration system can be found at the pond at Olmstead Park in East Shore, which houses an underground bubbling system. The Woodlands' fountains can also be used as noise abatements for communities along heavily-traveled thoroughfares, such as Woodlands Parkway or Gosling Road.

5. Although the ponds and lakes were not re-stocked with fish for two years following the 2011 drought, the township began re-stocking them with native fish in the spring with another re-stocking planned in the fall. As long as water levels are maintained, the ponds will continue to be stocked in the spring and fall with native fish, including perch, bass, blue gill and crappie, as well as feeder fish, such as minnows and shad. All the ponds and lakes in The Woodlands are catch and release, except for Lake Woodlands, which allows for fishers to keep their catch. By making fishers return caught fish, it helps maintain other wildlife in The Woodlands area, including raccoons, heron, egrets and eagles. State regulations apply, so a fishing license is required to fish at any pond or lake in The Woodlands.