Willow Waterhole Greenway

Willow Waterhole Greenway The beautiful 291-acre Greenway in Southwest Houston combines greenspace, nature habitat, and stormwater detention.

🌿 It's time for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday at Willow Waterhole!This week we're featuring a photo from our own...
07/29/2026

🌿 It's time for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday at Willow Waterhole!

This week we're featuring a photo from our own Conservation Educator, Austin Perez, of a Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus).

Did you know? Relative to their body size, Black-necked Stilts have some of the longest legs of any bird in North America, second only to flamingos. Those long pink legs let them wade into deeper water than many other shorebirds to hunt for insects, small crustaceans, and tiny fish.

They are also fiercely protective parents. When a predator gets too close to their nest, Black-necked Stilts will fake an injury, dragging a wing as if hurt to lure the threat away from their eggs before flying off to safety once the danger has passed.

📸 Spotted some great wildlife on your visits? Send us a message, and include your name so we can credit you.

Thanks to Austin for this week's photo, and thanks to all of you for celebrating the wild side of our greenspace with us!
See you next Wednesday!

Tropical Storm Bertha Report July 23rd - a storm band that passed over the Greenway in late afternoon dumped 3.96 inches...
07/24/2026

Tropical Storm Bertha Report July 23rd - a storm band that passed over the Greenway in late afternoon dumped 3.96 inches of rain in a 2 hour period. This took the Willow Waterhole Bayou stream to 54.16 feet above sea level. The top of bank on the Bayou just upstream of Scout Lake measures at 54.20 feet. So, water stayed within the banks, it did spillover at the weir into Scout Lake, which is at 50.00 feet. Another rainfall event where the flood control structures came into play.

We were extremely impressed when Salem Lutheran Youth Group from Tomball came early on Monday morning this week ready to...
07/22/2026

We were extremely impressed when Salem Lutheran Youth Group from Tomball came early on Monday morning this week ready to work. These energetic volunteers helped move mulch to the new trail, removed broomcorn, cleared away unneeded plants from the prairie garden, and picked up trash. Even without shade and warm temperatures, they were up to the challenge. Hopefully, the greenspace will be on their volunteer calendar next year. As always, we are grateful for our volunteers!

🌿 It's time for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday at Willow Waterhole!This week, Max Mendoza spotted something that ...
07/22/2026

🌿 It's time for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday at Willow Waterhole!

This week, Max Mendoza spotted something that always raises questions this time of year: an oak tree wrapped in silk webbing, courtesy of the Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea). 🕸️

Did you know? Fall Webworms spin their webs over the ends of branches, not in the crotches of the tree like their springtime cousin, the Eastern Tent Caterpillar. The caterpillars (pictured, photo by Ilze V-G) live and feed inside the web, and once they mature, they become the fuzzy white adult moths shown here (photo by John Davis).

Although the webbing looks dramatic, Fall Webworms rarely cause serious harm to a healthy, established tree. They typically show up late in the season, after most of the tree's growing has already happened for the year, so the damage is mostly cosmetic.

📸 Spotted some great wildlife on your visits? Drop them in the comments or send us a message, and include your name so we can credit you.

Thanks to Max for this week's photo, and thanks to all of you for celebrating the wild side of our greenspace with us!
See you next Wednesday!

As part of commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Conservancy, the history of the Willow Waterhole Greenway was docum...
07/16/2026

As part of commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Conservancy, the history of the Willow Waterhole Greenway was documented in the article below. It is a story of people persevering over many years, intersecting with each other, and how their actions have made a significant impact on our community.

An interesting read for all those who visit and enjoy the Greenway today. Thanks to all who have been part of history; it has provided future wisdom and a model for others, and an asset for generations to enjoy and benefit from.

🌿 It's time for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday at Willow Waterhole!This week we're featuring a photo from our own...
07/15/2026

🌿 It's time for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday at Willow Waterhole!

This week we're featuring a photo from our own Conservation Educator, Austin Perez, of a Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). 🖤

Did you know? Those bright red and yellow patches on the male's shoulders are called epaulets, and they are not just for show. Males use them to defend their territory, flashing the color to warn off rivals. Red-winged Blackbirds are famously bold defenders of their nests and will chase off birds, and even people, many times their size.

Females look completely different from males, with streaky brown feathers that make them easy to mistake for a large sparrow. If you spot one along the bayou, take a moment to appreciate just how different the two sexes of this species really are.

📸 Spotted some great wildlife on your visits? Drop them in the comments or send us a message, and include your name so we can credit you.

Thanks to Austin for this week's photo, and thanks to all of you for celebrating the wild side of our greenspace with us!
See you next Wednesday!

This piece of trash was found by one of our lakes this morning and has an important warning someone seemed to ignore.An ...
07/10/2026

This piece of trash was found by one of our lakes this morning and has an important warning someone seemed to ignore.

An empty PetSmart fish bag, with a warning printed right on it: "Do not release fish and aquatic plants into the environment."

That warning is extremely important. Releasing pet fish or plants into Willow Waterhole can hurt native wildlife, spread disease, and throw off an ecosystem we've spent years restoring. Fish like goldfish and plecos seem harmless in a tank, but in the wild they multiply fast and are nearly impossible to remove.

Can't keep a pet fish anymore? Rehome it instead. Local pet stores, rescues, and aquarium clubs can usually help.

Thanks for helping us protect this space. 💚

🌿 It's time for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday at Willow Waterhole!This week we're featuring Walter Chapman's pho...
07/08/2026

🌿 It's time for another edition of Wildlife Wednesday at Willow Waterhole!

This week we're featuring Walter Chapman's photo of a Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) along Willow Waterhole Bayou. 🤍

Did you know? Snowy Egrets are sometimes called the bird with "golden slippers" because of their bright yellow feet, which stand out against their black legs. They use those feet to stir up mud in shallow water, startling small fish and insects into view so they can sn**ch them up.

Snowy Egrets were once hunted nearly to extinction for their delicate plumes, which were used to decorate hats in the early 1900s. Public outcry over their decline helped spark the modern conservation movement, and today their population has recovered. Seeing one along our bayou is a small reminder of how far conservation has come.

📸 Spotted some great wildlife on your visits? Drop them in the comments or send us a message, and include your name so we can credit you.

Thanks to Walter for this week's photo, and thanks to all of you for celebrating the wild side of our greenspace with us!
See you next Wednesday!

Happy Fourth of July! 🎆This year we're celebrating two milestones: 250 years of American independence, and 25 years of t...
07/03/2026

Happy Fourth of July! 🎆

This year we're celebrating two milestones: 250 years of American independence, and 25 years of the Willow Waterhole Greenway.

Over the past 25 years, this greenway has grown into 291 acres of nature, habitat, and community, built through the dedication of neighbors, volunteers, and partners. Here's to the next 25 years! 💚🎇

Address

5300 Dryad Dr
Houston, TX
77035

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 8pm

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