Mitchell Lake

Mitchell Lake has a long history. Known as Laguna de los Patos since the 18th century, the area was originally used as a water source for cattle. In 1839, it gained its current name when Asa Mitchell bought the land for hunting purposes. The City of San Antonio in turn acquired the property in 1901, built a dam, and subsequently used the area as a sewage disposal site for decades. In 1973, the San Antonio City Council designated the Lake as a bird refuge. In 1987, sewage discharges ended, and in 2000, the San Antonio Water System leased 1200 acres there to the non-profit Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, which has since used the site for habitat protection and environmental education.