In May of 2015, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) completed a comprehensive Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) for the Lake Conroe watershed. The WPP focuses on monitoring the water quality in Lake Conroe, reducing problems from future growth and other activities in the watershed, as well as educating the public about water quality and how they can improve the already excellent water quality in Lake Conroe.

Lake Conroe is currently one of the highest quality waterbodies in the greater Houston area. In fact, Lake Conroe meets all Clean Water Act standards for contact recreation, public water supply, and aquatic habitat. In order to maintain those high standards and above average designations, our community actions and behaviors need to be closely examined.

Aquatic Invasive Species Management

Through partnering with local, state, and federal organizations, the Lake Conroe Division manages invasive aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other invasive species on the reservoir. With various participating organizations, the Division has developed a program to establish native vegetation across the reservoir and sustain a suitable fisheries habitat.

The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena Polymorpha) is an invasive species that has infested 28 lakes across five river basins across North America.  These invasive species are an ecological threat to the freshwater ecosystem due to its high rate of filtration.  They also consume large amounts of zoo plankton in the water and out compete other species for their food source.

Another problem with Zebra Mussels is the negative impact to the economy.   The mussels attach themselves to a multitude of different surfaces.  They can cause damage to boats, marinas, water intake pipes, and critical infrastructure.

Zebra Mussels are mainly transferred from one body of water to another by water craft.  The Zebra Mussel can be held in bilge water in its larval state (veliger) or attach itself to different parts of the vessel.  It is very important to clean, drain, and dry your boat, trailer, and equipment before introducing it into another body of water.

SJRA and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) have monitored Lake Conroe since 2016.  SJRA have placed ten “sediment samplers” throughout the watershed, with the main focus being at places of entry, such as boat ramps and marinas.  In addition to sediment samplers, TPWD collects eDNA and plankton two times a year.

In addition to the ten sampling locations we have around the lake, we also have six locations at the Palms Marina and these stations are inspected on a monthly basis.  This area has a greater frequency and distribution of sampling, because a vessel was found to have a small group of zebra mussels on it.  This vessel was in the water at Palms Marina for several months before the zebra mussels were detected.  We believe that these mussels were already on the vessel before being put into Lake Conroe and docked at Palms Marina.  SJRA we be keeping a close eye on this area for any future problems.

Zebra Mussel First Observations 2023

Portland Sampler

Palms Marina

Sediment Sampler

Zebra Mussel Sign

Zebra Mussel Sign at Boat Dock

Zebra Mussel

Zebra Mussels

Native Vegetation or Plant Program

SJRA, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) and the Seven Coves Bass Club have been managing invasive and native aquatic plants in Lake Conroe for decades. The SJRA and TPWD go through a yearly process of gathering, producing, and planting natives throughout the shorelines of Lake Conroe.

In late summer and very early spring, SJRA staff will collect different species of native plants throughout the reservoir for propagation. After collection, plants are brought back to the Lake Conroe dam to an aquatic native plant nursery. At the nursery, SJRA staff will cut and plant pieces of plant stock or root for growth.

The SJRA nursery is made up of eight lined wooden troughs that hold water to grow the native plants on site. Most of the plants will grow a root system in late summer and then go dormant for the winter season to where they will be ready to sprout out of the soil in early spring. All of the plants are tended to by SJRA staff and is available to see to the public if a tour is set up.

In addition to the plants that are grown on site, the SJRA will purchase additional plants for local growers if needed to satisfy the planting plan for that season. Once all plants have been grown or purchased, the SJRA staff and TPWD will go out to pre-planned locations along the shoreline and plant.

The native aquatic plants are very beneficial to Lake Conroe as a habitat for fish habitat, invertebrate habitat, stream bank erosion and to improve water quality. The SJRA and partners will continue to do our part to protect the best water in Texas.

Pictures and information of each plant that we plant

Pictures and videos of the plantings and nursery

Water Quality

The Lake Conroe Division inspects and permits all on-site sewage facilities after new construction, investigates OSSF complaints, and handles enforcement related to those facilities. The Division also operates a water quality sampling program and has implemented a watershed protection plan for Lake Conroe.

The San Jacinto River Authority participates in and contributes to the Clean Rivers Program (CRP) by sampling Lake Conroe and its tributaries at various sites on a monthly basis (Clean Rivers Sampling Map). The collected samples are sent to the City of Houston Water Quality Laboratory for analysis. The CRP is managed regionally by the Houston Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). The H-GAC disseminates the laboratory results through its website www.h-gac.com. Annually the “Basin Highlights/Summary Report” is created to give an update on the health of the local waterways. The health of the waterway is rated by a frog chart and the more frogs that are given the healthier the water (2021 Frog Chart).

There are 10 water quality monitoring stations in the Lake Conroe watershed (Clean Rivers Sampling Map). The CRP sites are all located in the main body of the lake or at the mouth of major tributaries and were chosen to capture water quality from all tributaries to represent the mixing of all inflow. At each site there are “grab samples” and instantaneous monitoring done. The grab samples are collected in bottles to be sent to the lab for analysis. The instantaneous monitoring is done with a water quality sonde that gives very useful real time data from different depths in the water column. The data gathered is compared to the TCEQ water quality standards and screening levels. The standards and screening levels are set for each water body by TCEQ based on the “use”. Lake Conroe’s uses are drinking water, fish consumption and recreation.

2023
Lake Conroe CRP First Quarter 2023

2022
Lake Conroe CRP Fourth Quarter 2022
Lake Conroe CRP Second Quarter 2022
Lake Conroe CRP First Quarter 2022

USGS 1985 Report

Texas Stream Team

The Texas Stream Team, formerly known as Texas Watch, is a statewide environmental education and volunteer-based water quality monitoring program.  The Texas Stream Team is specifically housed within the Meadows Center’s Watershed Services team.

Through Texas Stream Team, citizen scientists are trained to collect and submit surface water and environmental quality data that can then be used to promote and protect the 191,000 miles of Texas waterways.  The Texas Stream Team brings together community members, students, educators, academic researchers, environmental professionals, and both public and private sector partners to conduct scientific research and promote environmental stewardship.

The Texas Stream Team’s Mission is to facilitate environmental stewardship by empowering a statewide network of concerned citizen scientists, partners, and institutions in a collaborative effort to promote a healthy and safe environment through environmental education, data collection, and community action.

If you are interested in Texas Stream Team volunteer opportunities please contact Shane Simpson at 936-588-1111 or lakeconroe@sjra.net.

Stormwater Inlet Marking Program (SwIM)

The Stormwater Inlet Marking (SwIM) Program, part of SJRA’s Watershed Protection Plan (WPP), is a nationwide initiative aimed at educating the public about how stormwater runoff from streets and lawns can negatively affect water quality in Lake Conroe. The program invites community members to participate by installing aluminum medallions on stormwater inlets, which serve as a visual cue that anything entering the drain flows untreated into the lake. Interested groups can apply through SJRA, and approved participants receive a volunteer kit containing all necessary materials for safe and effective medallion installation. Please visit our SwIM Program page for additional information.

SwIM Medallion

Interactive ESRI online map

Map – Coming soon.