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?
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.
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
Come Explore Exploration Green's New Interactive Species Guide just before Moth Night!
All are invited to learn about the new Interactive Species Guide and Scavenger Hunt while unveiling signs that blend technology and nature. Be sure to bring your cell phone for the full experience.
The Interactive Species Guide and Scavenger Hunt were created by Amanda Morse as a Girl Scout Gold Award Project.
Date/Time: Saturday, July 2nd, 2022, 7:00 PM - Immediately Before Moth Night
What to wear/items to bring: Same as Moth Night - Wear long pants & long sleeve shirt if concerned about insect bites; camera, manual focus with macro lens works best; magnifying glass; red-light flashlight or low light flashlight. If applying bug spray on yourself, please do so in the parking lot.
Parking: Please park in the main parking lot at 16205 Diana Ln., Houston TX 77062.
This FREE event is family and pet-friendly! Please follow CDC guidelines for outdoor events regarding COVID-19. Please stay home if you are not feeling well. See you on the Green!
Discover what species of moths and other night-flying insects are out and about in Exploration Green!
Exploration Green had a great response to Moth Night 2021, so we are bringing it back in 2022! In fact, we are hoping this will be the first of several Moth Nights this summer, to give people more options in case they cannot attend on a given night.
We will set up white and UV lights shining on white sheets to attract them where we can then view and photograph. In the days after the event, we will upload our observations to iNaturalist for identification and so that we can track the species we have found over time.
Just a reminder that there are no lights installed in Exploration Green, it will be fairly dark between the parking lot and the mothing area. Please also note Exploration Green has no restroom facilities.
Date/Time: Saturday, July 2nd, 2022, 8:00 PM
What to wear/items to bring: Wear long pants & long sleeve shirt if concerned about insect bites; camera, manual focus with macro lens works best; magnifying glass; red-light flashlight or low light flashlight. If applying bug spray on yourself, please do so in the parking lot.
Parking: Please park in the main parking lot at 16205 Diana Ln., Houston TX 77062.
This FREE event is family and pet-friendly! Please follow CDC guidelines for outdoor events regarding COVID-19. Please stay home if you are not feeling well. See you on the Green!
Exploration Green Relaxes COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Restrictions for Tree Nursery Work Days
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.
Volunteers should continue to bring their own water and snacks.
Tree nursery volunteer work days are resuming on the second and last Saturdays of the month. Work days may be cancelled on short notice due to weather (including extreme heat).
To RSVP with your interest or to confirm a work day and the planned activities, e-mail Exploration Green's Tree Nursery Volunteer Coordinator, Susan Parker.
Exploration Green in the News
HIDDEN GEM: Exploration Green
What was once a 178-acre golf course now provides flood protection and green space for neighbors to enjoy.
Author: Brandi Smith
Published: 11:07 AM CDT May 19, 2022
Updated: 11:12 AM CDT May 19, 2022
HOUSTON — Exploration Green is a community project in Clear Lake that serves two purposes. When the weather is nice, it’s a place where neighbors can connect with nature. When storms hit, it keeps nature away from neighbors.
Click the KHOU 11 logo at left to view the video and read the full article.
Midland is not resilient against floods - Here's how we could be
Midland Business Alliance's Infrastructure committee reviews successful models across U.S.
Tess DeGayner, Midland Daily News
May 23, 2022
MIDLAND — A group of volunteers is moving towards building a more resilient community by addressing legacy flooding challenges...
Houston may have a solution for Midland's problem...
Click the Midland (Michigan) Daily News logo at left to read the full article.
Exploration Green Named Finalist for 2022 Governor’s Texas Environmental Excellence Award
The State of Texas' Environmental regulatory agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has named the Exploration Green Conservancy as a finalist for the 2022 Governor’s Texas Environmental Excellence Award in the Civic/Community category.
Click Finalist Award Certificate at left to see a larger image.
Exploration Green Receives 2021 Project Award for Public Infrastructure
At their Mid-Winter conference held in Galveston, the Association of Water Board Directors - Texas, their 2021 Project Award for Public Infrastructure was presented to the Clear Lake City Water Authority for the construction of Exploration Green. The award was based on innovativeness, ability to be replicated by other governmental entities, community support, and multiple benefits to the community.
Present to receive the award were Jennifer Morrow, General Manager of the CLCWA, CLCWA Directors John Branch and Anthea Guest, and Bill Rosenbaum from the construction engineering firm LAN.
Click photo at left to go to Association of Water Board Director - Texas website.
New parks, recreation opportunities to join Bay Area
By Colleen Ferguson, Kelly Schafler | 5:45 PM Jan 25, 2022 CST | Updated 2:57 PM Jan 27, 2022 CST
A 200-acre Clear Lake project that began as stormwater detention at a former golf course has since evolved into both flood-mitigation structures and a local recreation destination. The remaining two sections of the five-phase nonprofit project, known as Exploration Green, are set to be complete by the end of 2022.
Click photo at left to read the full article.
Exploration Green Featured as GBEP Success Stories on State of The Bay Interactive Website
Exploration Green was recently featured on the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) State of the Bay: A Spotlight on GBEP Success website.
Once on the website, click the Exploration Green tab at the top for the full story. The web page features an interactive aerial photograph that allows the viewer to swipe across what the former Clear Lake Golf Course looked like before and the completed phases of Exploration Green look like now.