Navidad River
Encyclopedia
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
that runs roughly parallel to its sister river, the Lavaca River
Lavaca River
The Lavaca River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. It begins in the northeastern part of Gonzales County, and travels generally southeast for 115 miles until it empties into Lavaca Bay, which is a component of Matagorda Bay.-History:...
. It is not spring fed, and all of its volume is runoff which eventually provides for much of the water in Lake Texana
Lake Texana
Lake Texana is a reservoir on the Navidad River, 8 miles east of Edna, in Jackson County, Texas. The reservoir is formed by the construction of Palmetto Bend Dam, begun in 1968 and completed in 1979. The dam and lake are managed by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, and supply drinking water to...
.
Course
It begins in two primary branches. The East Navidad River begins in southern Fayette CountyFayette County, Texas
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 21,804. Its county seat is La Grange. Fayette is named for the Marquis de la Fayette, a French nobleman who became an American Revolutionary War hero...
and runs southeast until it reaches Colorado County. The West Navidad River also begins in Fayette County and wanders south for twenty-three miles until its confluence with the East Navidad, where it becomes the Navidad River. The town of Schulenburg
Schulenburg, Texas
Schulenburg is a city in Fayette County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,699 at the 2000 census.Known for its German culture, Schulenburg is home of the Texas Polka Music Museum.-Geography:Schulenburg is located at ....
is centered between the two branches, which are both somewhat seasonal, and navigation can be difficult due to low water levels and obstructions.
The river then winds it way south, passing the city of Morales and then forming Lake Texana
Lake Texana
Lake Texana is a reservoir on the Navidad River, 8 miles east of Edna, in Jackson County, Texas. The reservoir is formed by the construction of Palmetto Bend Dam, begun in 1968 and completed in 1979. The dam and lake are managed by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, and supply drinking water to...
about seven miles east of Edna
Edna, Texas
Edna is a city in Jackson County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,899 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.Edna is the gateway to Lake Texana, which covers the site of Texana, Texas...
. After the lake, the river continues south for a few miles and then reaches its mouth on the Lavaca River
Lavaca River
The Lavaca River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. It begins in the northeastern part of Gonzales County, and travels generally southeast for 115 miles until it empties into Lavaca Bay, which is a component of Matagorda Bay.-History:...
.
Tributaries
Mustang Creek and Sandy Creek both empty into the Navidad as part of the Lake Texana formation.Economy
The entire watershed and associated water resources are managed by the Lavaca-Navidad River AuthorityLavaca-Navidad River Authority
The Lavaca-Navidad River Authority or LNRA was formed in August, 1941 by the Texas legislature. Its regulatory authority is authorized by Article 16, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, codified in Vernon's Annotated Texas Civil Statutes as Article 8280-131...
, which was established in 1941.
Fame
The Navidad River is best known for being the territory of the legendary Wild Man of the NavidadWild Man of the Navidad
The Wild Man of the Navidad is believed to be one of the first sightings of Bigfoot in Texas.- History :...
, which many believe to be the very first Bigfoot
Bigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
sightings in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The creature was first widely reported in 1837 throughout the early settlements along the Navidad River bottoms, circa the modern-day town of Sublime, Texas, in Lavaca County.
The river's notoriety was increased even more after IFC Films
IFC Films
IFC Films is an American film distribution company based in New York, owned by AMC Networks. It distributes independent films and documentaries under the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight. It operates the IFC Center....
released the horror film titled The Wild Man of the Navidad
The Wild Man of the Navidad
The Wild Man of the Navidad is a 2008 horror film picked up by IFC Films shortly after its world premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. - Plot :This movie is allegedly based on the real-life journals of Dale S...
in 2009. Although the movie was set in the real-life town of Sublime, Texas, it was actually shot south of the area in Whitsett, Texas
Whitsett, Texas
Whitsett is an unincorporated community in northwestern Live Oak County, Texas, United States. It lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 281 and FM 99, along the Union Pacific Railroad and fifteen miles north of Three Rivers. Whitsett is best known as being the setting for the 2008 horror film The...
.