Lower Neches Valley Authority facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lower Neches Valley Authority |
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| Location | Southeast Texas counties Total: Jefferson, Hardin, Tyler Partial:Jasper, Liberty, Chambers |
| Primary inflows | Neches River Pine Island Bayou |
| Primary outflows | Irrigation canals |
| Built | 1933 |
| Max. length | 400 mi (640 km) |
| Surface area | 700 sq mi (1,800 km2) |
| Water volume | 1×109 US gal/d (3.8×109 L/d) maximum |
The Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA) is an organization in Texas. It was created in 1933 to manage and protect the water in the lower Neches River area. Think of it like a water manager for a big part of Southeast Texas! It was the second group of its kind in Texas and is now one of 23 such groups. The LNVA helps counties like Jefferson, Hardin, and Tyler, plus parts of Jasper, Liberty, and Chambers counties.
How the LNVA is Managed
The LNVA is run by a group of nine directors. These directors are chosen by the Texas Water Development Board. For a while, the LNVA didn't have a way to make money. But since 1943, its water delivery system has been updated many times.
The LNVA provides water to cities (except Beaumont), businesses, and rice farmers. These are mainly in Jefferson County and parts of Chambers and Liberty counties.
The LNVA also works with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. They have planned and built large dams on the Neches River and Angelina River. These dams help with many things, like controlling floods. Other projects by the LNVA include building a permanent barrier to block saltwater. They also have programs to keep water clean. Plus, they build boat ramps and other fun places along the waterways.
The Water System
The LNVA's water system is very big. It includes many miles of canals and special barriers.
Water Canals
The LNVA system has about 400 miles (644 km) of canals. These canals cover an area of 700 square miles (1,813 km²). The canals deliver fresh water to many places. This includes eight cities, 26 industries, and over 100 farms that need water for their crops.
Water is taken from the lower Neches River and Pine Island Bayou. This happens in north Beaumont. There are 21 large pumps that move the water. These pumps can deliver between 20,000 and 110,000 gallons of water every minute. In total, the system can deliver over one billion gallons of water each day!
Saltwater Barrier
Before a permanent barrier was built, the LNVA used to put up temporary barriers. They did this across Pine Island Bayou and the Neches River. They put up these temporary barriers 36 times between 1940 and 2000. This was to stop saltwater from getting into the fresh water.
A permanent saltwater barrier was built across the Neches River. It is about half a mile (0.8 km) downstream from where Pine Island Bayou and the Neches River meet. This is about eight miles (13 km) north of Beaumont. The barrier was built between 2000 and 2003. It stops saltwater from getting in when the river flows are low.
The permanent saltwater barrier project cost about $50 million. The U.S. government paid 75% of the cost. The LNVA paid the remaining 25%. The barrier is over 1,000 feet (305 meters) long. It has a 650-foot (198-meter) long overflow barrier. It also has five large tainter gates, each 45 feet (14 meters) wide. There is also a 56-foot (17-meter) wide lane for boats. This lane is controlled by two 30-foot (9-meter) sector gates. The barrier also helps save 200,000 acre-feet of fresh water each year upstream in Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
The saltwater barrier project also offers fun activities. There are public boat ramps on the Jefferson County side of the barrier. The area has a walking trail and a playground. In 2014, the state of Texas created its 61st canoe paddling trail here. The trail starts at the saltwater barrier. It goes north into waters that are part of the Big Thicket National Preserve.
