Navidad River

Map of the Navidad River and associated watershed

The Navidad River is a 90 mile long coastal river in the U.S. state of Texas that runs roughly parallel to its sister river, the Lavaca River. It is not spring fed, and all of its volume is runoff which eventually provides for much of the water in Lake Texana.^[1]

Course

It begins in two primary branches. The East Navidad River begins in southern Fayette County and runs southeast until it reaches Colorado County.^[2] 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.^[3] The town of Schulenburg is centered between the two branches, which are both somewhat seasonal, and navigation can be difficult due to low water levels and obstructions. ^[4]

The river then winds it way south, passing the city of Morales and then forming Lake Texana about seven miles east of Edna. After the lake, the river continues south for a few miles and then reaches its mouth on the Lavaca River.

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 Authority, which was established in 1941.^[5]

Fame

The Navidad River is best known for being the territory of the legendary Wild Man of the Navidad, which many believe to be the very first Bigfoot sightings in Texas.^[6] 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. ^[7]

The river's notoriety was increased even more after IFC Films released the horror film titled The Wild Man of the Navidad in 2009. ^[8] Although the movie was set in the real-life town of Sublime, Texas, it was actually shot south of the area in Whitsett, Texas.^[9]

Notes

1. ^ Navidad River from the Handbook of Texas Online
2. ^ East Navidad River from the Handbook of Texas Online,
3. ^ West Navidad River from the Handbook of Texas Online
4. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife: An Analysis of Texas Waterways
5. ^ Lavaca-Navidad River Authority
6. ^ http://www.texasbigfoot.org/index.php/about-bigfoot/articles/57-articles/69-bigfoot-in-texas Bigfoot in Texas?
7. ^ http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/hns98.html The Handbook of Texas Online: Sublime, Texas
8. ^ http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117992453.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=wild+man+of+the+navidad IFC enters six in Fantastic Fest from Daily Variety
9. ^ http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A674074 Beware: Bigfoot Ahead from The Austin Chronicle