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Sheldon Lake, Texas, USA

Also known as:  Lake Sheldon, Sheldon Resevoir

Sheldon Lake is conveniently located just 16 miles east of Houston in northeastern Harris County. This 1,230-acre reservoir covers about 800 acres of open water and 400 acres of marsh and swamplands. Although the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages Sheldon Lake as a waterfowl refuge and public fishing site, the reservoir has served many purposes since its creation during World War II. Sheldon Reservoir was created…
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    • All About Sheldon Lake, TX

    Lake Locations: USA - US Southwest Region - Texas - Gulf Coast Region, TX -

    Sheldon Lake is conveniently located just 16 miles east of Houston in northeastern Harris County. This 1,230-acre reservoir covers about 800 acres of open water and 400 acres of marsh and swamplands. Although the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages Sheldon Lake as a waterfowl refuge and public fishing site, the reservoir has served many purposes since its creation during World War II.

    Sheldon Reservoir was created in 1943 by the federal government when it dammed Carpenter’s Bayou in the San Jacinto River Basin to provide fresh water for shipbuilding and shipping activities on the Houston Ship Channel in support of the war effort. After the war, the City of Houston took over management of Sheldon Lake and used it to provide drinking water for the city. With the construction of the Lake Houston Dam on the nearby west fork of the Trinity River in 1952, the reservoir was sold to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to use as a waterfowl sanctuary. The Sheldon Wildlife Management Area opened to the public in 1955 and was designated a state park in 1984. Sheldon Reservoir has survived Houston’s urbanization over the past 50 years. The Sheldon Wildlife Management Area is the last remaining freshwater marsh habitat and refuge within the greater Houston area.

    Sheldon Lake is a sport fisherman’s dream. Free catch-and-release family fishing is allowed on Saturdays, and poles are even provided. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks the reservoir with many species including catfish, crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, and sunfish. Boats with motors under 10 horsepower are allowed on the lake from March 1 to November 1; motorboats are prohibited November 1 to March 1 due to wintering waterfowl. However, bank fishing and pier fishing are available year-round. The catfish and crappie fishing are particularly good at the north end of the lake.

    Sheldon Lake’s protected status also allows waterfowl and other bird species to flourish in and around the lake. The non-profit group, Friends of Lake Sheldon (FOSL), hosts “Walks with Nature” every third Saturday from May through September. As of 2006, more than 250 distinct species made it onto the group’s bird checklist and can be sighted in the state park. Sheldon Reservoir is also home to one of Texas’ largest inland waterbird colony; more than 2,000 heron, egret, roseate spoonbill, anhinga, cormorant, and ibis nests are counted each Memorial Day as part of the Texas Colonial Waterbird Census. Sheldon Lake has also become increasingly popular for winter bird watching as more than 90 species can be found wintering in the park, including such popular species as Canvasback and Ross’s Goose, Fish Crow, Ash-throated and Vermillion Flycatchers, Le Conte’s and Grasshopper Sparrows, and American Bittern.

    The Environmental Learning Center at Lake Sheldon State Park was completed in 2005 and offers many educational programs on the bird and fish species of the lake and much more. Some of the ELC’s more interesting offerings include classes on alternative energy, green building, and composting. It also includes a half-mile trail, which passes 28 constructed pond areas housing local species including alligators and birds. The ELC also offers hunter education classes. Canoe trails are currently under development.

    Although camping is not allowed in Sheldon Lake State Park, there are many nearby hotels with available accommodations. You can also camp at nearby Lake Houston Park. Future plans for the park include cabins and camping areas, although as of yet funds have not been raised for those developments.

    Things to Do at Sheldon Lake

    These are some activities in the Sheldon Lake, TX area visitors can enjoy:

    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Canoeing
    • Camping
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Sheldon Lake?

    Sheldon Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Sunfish
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    Find Places to Stay at Sheldon Lake

    If you’re considering a Sheldon Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Sheldon Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Sheldon Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Sheldon Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

    Surface Area: 1,230 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 47 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 41 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 50 feet

    Average Depth: 4 feet

    Maximum Depth: 10 feet

    Water Volume: 5,354 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1943

    Drainage Area: 25 sq. miles

    Sheldon Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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