Home / Media / News Releases

JJ Mayes Wildlife Trace closure at Wallisville Lake Project

Published April 22, 2020
JJ Mayes Wildlife Trace is a four- mile all weather road atop the levee along the west bank of the Trinity River. Opened in 2003, the Trace gives visitors a close-up view of the marshes and river bank habitats and many of the wildlife species living within the boundaries of the Wallisville Project. This park is one of two parks associated with the Wallisville Lake Project, a large area of protected wetlands, swamp forest, and bottomland hardwood forest created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for salinity control, navigation, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. The protection of this land is of vital importance to birds. for more information visit https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Locations/Wallisville-Lake-Project-Office/Recreation/
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 1 of 1

JJ Mayes Wildlife Trace is a four- mile all weather road atop the levee along the west bank of the Trinity River. Opened in 2003, the Trace gives visitors a close-up view of the marshes and river bank habitats and many of the wildlife species living within the boundaries of the Wallisville Project. This park is one of two parks associated with the Wallisville Lake Project, a large area of protected wetlands, swamp forest, and bottomland hardwood forest created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for salinity control, navigation, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. The protection of this land is of vital importance to birds. for more information visit https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Locations/Wallisville-Lake-Project-Office/Recreation/

PRINT | E-MAIL

WALLISVILLE, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District will close the J.J. Mayes Wildlife Trace at the Wallisville Lake Project on April 23 in order to improve the west non-overflow dam road to increase public safety.

"The road has been heavily damaged by numerous storms over the past few years and by the ever increasing number of visitors to the area," said Eric Angle, Lead Ranger for the Wallisville Lake Project. "We are going to restore the road in order to provide a much-improved driving surface that will enhance the visitor experience to this beautiful habitat."

Located west of the Trinity River, the J.J. Mayes Wildlife Trace consists of roads, trails, boardwalks and picnic facilities designed to allow nature observers to experience both marsh and river bank habitats. Both casual and experienced nature observers can find interesting things to explore at the Trace.

"We expect to complete construction of the J.J. Mayes Wildlife Trace in 90 days," said Angle. "But unforeseen events could push that date further out. We’ll post updates as necessary."

Located 40 miles east of downtown Houston at the Trinity River and Interstate 10, the primary purpose of the Wallisville Lake Project is to prevent intrusion of saltwater up the Trinity River in order to conserve fresh water and to protect the fresh water intakes of local municipalities, including the City of Houston. In addition to protecting the fresh water supply, the project supports navigation of commercial and recreational boats, serves as a water supply, is a favorite recreational destination among Houstonians and supports an array of fish and wildlife habitats.

For more information about the Wallisville Lake Project Office, call (409) 389-2285 or visit the office’s site online at http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Locations/WallisvilleLakeProjectOffice.aspx.

For more news and information, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil. Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.


Release no. 20-036

JJ Mayes Wildlife Trace
Wallisville Lake Project
park closure
USACE Galveston District