About Exploration Green
In Southeast Houston, dedicated groups of volunteers are transforming a defunct golf course into an innovative stormwater detention center and green space.
Exploration Green provides an integrated, natural solution for catastrophic seasonal flooding holding up to 500-million-gallons of stormwater while also serving as a nature preserve and recreation area. Located near NASA's Johnson Space Center, this 200-acre urban green space provides the community with countless opportunities to explore, offering 40 acres of both wetlands and permanent detention lakes, home to over 1,000 native species.
Questions about Exploration Green Construction?
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The Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA) manages the construction (excavation) phase of the Exploration Green stormwater detention lakes. Please visit the Clear Lake City Water Authority's Exploration Green Detention Facility web page for announcements and the the most current updates on construction activities and progress.
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If you cannot find the information you need on the CLCWA's web page, please contact them at (281) 488-1164
Exploration Green Remains Open, Please Exercise Caution due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
The Clear Lake City Water Authority will follow orders of Harris County and the City of Houston concerning the public access to county and city parks during the current coronavirus outbreak. Exploration Green will remain open to the public as long as county and city parks are open but will close on the same schedule as Harris County and Houston parks in the future.
Upcoming Events
Exploration Green Ribbon Cutting
Come and Celebrate with us the Final Ribbon Cutting and help us show our appreciation to all the amazing volunteers that showed their giving hearts to help make Exploration Green Special.
The ribbon cutting event will feature food trucks, exhibits, nature, crafts, tours, and games.
Saturday, September 30th from 9:00 AM to Noon
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Parking is available on the street and on the main lot located at 16205 Diana Ln., Houston TX 77062!
Glow the Green for Halloween
Walk the pathway around Phase One of Exploration Green lit with hundreds of spooky luminaries!
This year, Glow-the-Green is being held in conjunction with the Clear Lake City Community Association’s Fall Festival and Running Alliance’s BooDash fun run.
Saturday, October 28th, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
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Parking is available on the street and on the main lot located at 16205 Diana Ln., Houston TX 77062!
Phase 3B Fall Tree Planting Events
Please join other Exploration Green volunteers for fall tree planting on Phase 3B between 8:00 a.m. and noon. Access the site at the Penn Hills Bridge over the Harris County Flood Control ditch. The nearest street address is: 15034 Penn Hills Ln, Houston, TX 77062.
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Tree Planting dates are:
Saturday, November 4th, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon)
Saturday, November 18th, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon)
Saturday, December 2nd, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon)
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Please wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring your own work gloves, refillable water bottle. Tools, cold water for refills, and snacks will be provided.
No previous tree planting experience required - we will train you! Tasks range from heavy to light; there is a job for everybody!
Please RSVP to explorationgreen@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
Exploration Green Tree Nursery Work Days
The Exploration Green tree nursery holds volunteer work days to "up-pot" (transplant growing trees to larger pots and unbind the roots), weed the tree pots, clear other weeds from the mats, and check the irrigation system). These work days are scheduled as needed, depending on what work needs to be done. They are not scheduled months in advance as before. When they are scheduled, they are held on Saturday mornings, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon).
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Please e-mail explorationgreen@gmail.com if you are interested in being added to the distribution list for future tree nursery maintenance events.
Exploration Green has relaxed COVID-19 limits on the number of tree nursery volunteers per event, and no long requires volunteers to wear masks. Volunteers are encouraged to wear masks and maintain social distancing while volunteering.
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Volunteers should continue to bring their own water and snacks.
Exploration Green in the News
After Hurricane Idalia, we must invest in disaster mitigation
Jessie Ritter, Josh Sewell
Published September 8
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"NOAA estimates that U.S. coastal wetlands alone provide $23.2 billion in storm protection each year. Nature-based solutions can also provide the surrounding communities with a wealth of ecosystem services, like cleaner air and water, recreational opportunities, increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration. One example is the Exploration Green Project in Texas, which transformed a defunct golf course into a 200-acre nature park and stormwater detention center, providing significant flood-risk reduction."
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Click the image at left to read the full article.
Great Texas Birding Classic Raises Thousands for Habitat Conservation
Sept. 5, 2023
Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030
AUSTIN— The Great Texas Birding Classic, the biggest, longest, wildest birdwatching tournament in the country, raised $47,000 for projects benefitting native Texas habitats and species...
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Winning Birding Classic teams get to select which projects to fund. This year, conservation grants were awarded to:
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$10,000 Weeklong Conservation Grant (Statewide) – Selected by Two Eagles & a Chick, sponsored by Deep South Marine, LLC
Project: Native Tree Planting at Exploration Green – submitted by Exploration Green Conservancy
Project Location: Clear Lake/Houston, Harris County
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Click the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department logo at left to read the full article.
Exploration Green in Clear Lake final phase set for summer completion
By Jovanna Aguilar | 12:40 PM Apr 3, 2023 CDT
Updated 12:40 PM Apr 3, 2023 CDT
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The final phase of Exploration Green, a project to convert a Clear Lake golf course into a nature conservatory with a series of detention ponds, will be finished this summer.
The Clear Lake City Water Authority, an entity that provides water, sewer and drainage services to the Clear Lake area, began the Exploration Green project in 2005. Phase 5, the final phase, was originally projected to be completed by the end of 2022 or early this year but was delayed due to weather, said John Branch, vice president of the CLCWA board of directors.
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Click the image at left to read the full article.