San Antonio’s Mitchell Lake to Receive $1.5M

SAN ANTONIO, TX – This week, San Antonio’s Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, a 600-acre bird paradise on the Southside, was allocated $1.5 million from the Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Fiscal Year 2018 Work Plan for a study that will initiate the restoration of the lake’s ecosystem and surrounding habitat. Rep. Hurd, who has been working with appropriators since 2016 for the benefit of Mitchell Lake, was instrumental in securing the funds with USACE, and recently toured the site in February.

“The hundreds of bird and plant species thriving on site have proven to provide impressive economic, environmental and health benefits to the surrounding community. I am proud to have worked with SAWS, USACE and the Audubon Texas Conservation leadership to secure funding for Mitchell Lake’s continued improvements so that students and bird enthusiasts can enjoy this unique migratory bird sanctuary for years to come. It truly is a treasure that all San Antonians should enjoy.”

“Congressman Hurd has been a champion on ensuring that the value of Mitchell Lake and its surrounding areas are recognized and enhanced, particularly his leadership within Congress and with the Army Corps,” said Robert R. Puente, SAWS President/CEO.  “Mitchell Lake is a critical element to the quality of life and future development of the Southside of San Antonio.”

Mitchell Lake is positioned on a natural migratory bird route and serves as a resting point for tens of thousands of birds each year. Bird watchers come from all over the world to see the unique variety of birds that visit there. This project is designed to improve the surrounding habitat around the lake, creating a more economically friendly environment for a variety of animal species. This restoration project will also increase visitors to the lake, by creating trails with hiking and biking paths for people in Bexar County.