The Neches RiverNational Wildlife Refuge is a protected area of Texas managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is located in the rolling hills of East Texas near Jacksonville. Encompassing the upper Neches River, the unit preserves a pristine waterway. After the city ofDallas proposed constructing a dam along the body of water, conservationists petitioned the federal government to protect the river, which resulted in the 2006 creation of the refuge. The TexasWater Board sued to prevent this acquisition, but in 2010, a federal judge ruled in favor of the Fish & Wildlife Service. Although the river is served by several canoe outfitters, the mainland portion of the facility is closed to visitors. More than 100 visitors came to the Refuge in October 2012 to acquaint themselves with the grounds, canoe on the Neches River, and later enjoyed a barbecue dinner at a nearby ranch. Among the hosts were the Friends of the Neches River and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Refuge at that point had not received enough funding to establish any on-site programs or amenities to where it could open to regular visitors. A Friends of the Neches River representative explained that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service received more than 15,000 letters and signatures requesting the agency to consider a refuge for the area. By 2012, over had been set aside to make up the Refuge, with thousands more anticipated in the near term. Ultimately, upwards of could end up being part of the Refuge. A preview event was held at the Refuge in September 2018, which was open to the public. A Texas Parks and Wildlife representative was present to acquaint visitors with the various wildlife found there. Also attending were University of Texas at Tyler students and teachers, helping to show younger visitors what could be found at the Refuge. Experienced guides led nature walks for attendees, as well. The Texas Conservation Alliance played host of the preview, and also revealed that the Refuge would be opened to the public on a regular basis in the near future.
