Landscape Information
This 600-acre lake just south of the I-410 Loop is one of only two natural lakes in the State of Texas. As early as the 1700s, Spanish settlers used the lake, which they called Laguna de los Patos (“Lake of the Ducks”), to water their cattle. By the late 1800s the lake was owned by the Mitchell family (hence its name), but the City of San Antonio purchased it in 1901, subsequently transforming the site into a wastewater discharge area, with the lake and its surrounding ponds becoming reservoirs for sewage. To reclaim the area in 1973, the city declared the lake a refuge for waterfowl and shore birds, and in 1987 the discharge of sewage into the lake was discontinued. The San Antonio Water System assumed responsibility for Mitchell Lake in 1992, and in 2004 the lake became part of a 1,200-acre nature preserve managed by the National Audubon Society.
The lake is now part of a diverse ecosystem comprising a combination of grassland, wetlands, brushland, ponds, and woodlands. The grounds are populated with native plants, including live oak, lantana, agave, aster, morning glory, and blue mistflower. Winding throughout the varied terrain are 7.5 miles of walking and driving paths. The lake is also positioned directly in the path of a natural migratory bird route, the Central Flyway, which is used by tens of thousands of birds each year. Some 307 species of birds, including roseate spoonbills, white pelicans, and yellow-billed cuckoo use the lake as a stop on their winter and spring migrations, making it a world-class bird-watching location.
