Wildlife Management in Master District Lakes

Please report any sightings of alligators or other wildlife issues to the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 500 operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599.

Background

The Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 500 (Harris County MUD 500) lakes are, like the greater Houston area, a natural habitat for various wildlife, including but not limited to alligators, Egyptian geese, nutria and beavers. For more information on wildlife in Texas, please visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website, at https://tpwd.texas.gov/.

Beginning in the spring of 2017, Harris County MUD 500, in its capacity as the Master District for the Master District Service Area, began receiving reports of beavers and Egyptian geese in its lakes and contracted with a wildlife pest professional to remove them. In April 2017, Harris County MUD 500 received a report that an alligator was sighted in Towne Lake. Harris County MUD 500 obtained a nuisance control permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (required by State law to remove an alligator) and requested that its contractor search for and remove any alligator that might be present in its lakes. In early July 2017, Harris County MUD 500’s contractor caught and removed a 5’ 10” male alligator in the southern portion of Harris County MUD 500’s lakes.

During the fall of 2017, Harris County MUD 500 received multiple reports of an alligator in its lakes. Despite repeated attempts, the contractor did not locate an alligator. As directed by MUD 500, the contractor has continued weekly monitoring of the lakes to search for any evidence of alligators and to take steps to remove them if any are found.

Beginning in early July 2018, Harris County MUD 500 began receiving new reports of an approximately 3’ to 7’ alligator in the central or southeastern portion of its lakes. Harris County MUD 500 immediately has reported each sighting to its contractor and directed the contractor to search for and remove any alligator that may be present in its lakes, after obtaining the required nuisance permit. On July 29, 2019, Harris County MUD 500’s contractor caught and removed a 5’ alligator in the northern portion of Harris County MUD 500’s lakes.

In the summer of 2020, Harris County MUD 500 again began receiving reports of an alligator in its lakes. Over the next year, Harris County MUD 500’s contractor continued to monitor for the presence of an alligator. On September 3, 2021, Harris County MUD 500’s contractor caught and removed a 4’6” female alligator in the far northern portion of its lakes.

Harris County MUD 500 additionally has been coordinating with the Towne Lake Community Association regarding the installation of signage notifying residents and visitors of wildlife that may be located within the lakes, including alligators. You may notice the signs around the community. Please click here for a picture of one of the signs.

Harris County MUD 500 requests that residents report any sightings of alligators or other wildlife issues to its operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599. Harris County MUD 500 also respectfully requests that residents of and visitors to Towne Lake refrain from interfering with its wildlife management contractor and/or any of the contractor’s lines, traps, or other equipment left in or near its lakes.