Lower Neches Valley Authority

The Lower Neches Valley Authority was established in 1933 as a district to store, control, conserve, and utilize the water of the lower Neches River valley. It includes all of Jefferson, Hardin, and Tyler counties and parts of Jasper, Liberty, and Chambers counties.

The LNVA is governed by a board of nine directors appointed by the Texas Water Development Board. Until 1943 the authority was without any facilities to produce revenue. Since 1943 the system, which supplies water to the cities (except Beaumont), industry, and rice growers of Jefferson County and portions of Chambers County and Liberty County, has been renovated many times.

The LNVA has also cooperated with the United States Army Corps of Engineers in planning, financing, and constructing several large multipurpose dams on the Neches River and Angelina River. Others projects sponsored by the authority include the construction of a permanent saltwater barrier on the Neches River, a comprehensive water-quality management program, and the construction of boat ramps and other recreational facilities on area waterways.