Legal Notice Pursuant To Section 60.075 of the Texas Water Code

Pursuant to adoption of an Ordinance by the Board of the Sabine Neches Navigation District at its April 13, 2021 meeting, Effective May 1, 2021, the following ordinance will be enforced.

About us

The Sabine-Neches Navigation District has operated in Jefferson County for over 100 years.

The Sabine-Neches Navigation District was formed in 1909 as the manager of the Taylor’s Bayou Saltwater Barrier. Later, that designation expanded to become the local non-Federal Sponsor to the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the Sabine-Neches Waterway.

The Sabine-Neches Waterway is the second-longest inland waterway on the U.S. Gulf Coast and home to two U.S. strategic seaports – the Port of Beaumont and the Port of Port Arthur.

  • Vision

To responsibly manage, advocate for and improve the ship channel and navigable waters of Jefferson County to enhance the economy, environment and quality of life in Southeast Texas.

  • Mission

As a political subdivision of Texas, the SNND responsibly and effectively:

  1. Waterway Commerce – Promotes and supports the maintenance of the Sabine-Neches Waterway in order to facilitate and sustain commerce in the ship channel for Southeast Texas and the nation.

  2. Taylor’s Bayou – Manages the saltwater barriers and flood control structures at Taylor’s Bayou.

  3. Waterway Security – Funds and shares responsibility for waterway security on the ship channel.

The Sabine-Neches Navigation District is a responsible steward of the waterway. Its responsibilities include:

  • Working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on maintaining the waterway.
  • Providing dredge-spoil placement areas for levee construction and easement/lease maintenance.
  • Serving as a liaison between the USACE and local industry regarding normal operations, new construction, and expansions.
  • Working with the USACE on appropriations acquisition, annual operations, and maintenance of the waterway and new projects.
  • Providing channel alignment, land reclamation, drainage, and erosion control for the Sabine-Neches Waterway, the Neches River, and Taylor’s Bayou.
  • Operating saltwater barriers to control saltwater intrusion in Taylor’s Bayou and Hildebrandt Bayou. These barriers also act as flood control gates for Jefferson County, which SNND uses to ensure proper drainage of rainwater.
  • Operating a control building with a modern control system to operate the
    floodgates and navigational locks on Taylor’s Bayou.

THE WATERWAY

The lifeline that drives the economies of Southeast Texas

The Sabine-Neches Waterway, or the ship channel, is a “highway” through which more than 192 million tons of cargo is transported each year.

Learn More

Staff & Commissioners

Meet the people of SNND

Randall-Reese
Randall Reese
Executive Director & CEO

Randall Reese is currently the Executive Director and CEO of the Sabine-Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County Texas. Randall’s background is Heavy Marine and Deep Foundation Construction. In 2001 Randall sold the Highway Division of his company and in 2007 sold the Marine and Industrial Divisions. In 2003 Randall was ask to work with the Jefferson County Navigation District to assist on projects for the district. In 2006 Randall took over as General Manager of the District. Shortly after becoming General Manager the Jefferson County Navigation District name was changed to Sabine-Neches Navigation District. Beaumont High School and attended Lee Junior College in Baytown, Texas.

Joe-Johnson
Joe Johnson
Commissioner

Joe Johnson currently holds the office of Secretary of the Sabine Neches Navigation District. He is a fourth generation educator, and business owner. Prior to serving on the Sabine-Neches Navigation District, he also served on the Port of Port Arthur’s Board of Commissioners for two years.

Sheri_Arnold
Sheri Arnold
Commissioner

With over 30 years experience in economic development, she has extensive depth of knowledge in the industrial sector, waterway properties, large land transactions and investment opportunities.  Sheri was appointed to the Board of the Sabine Neches Navigation District in January of 2021. 

Involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations, Sheri is a member of the Bob Hope School Board and MCT Credit Union Board.  She also holds the notable Certified Commercial Investment Manager (CCIM) designation and is one of eight members on Coldwell Banker Commercial’s National Corporate Advisory Board.  Sheri received the 2017 Halter/Case Leadership Award for Coldwell Banker Commercial, US Operations and was also awarded the 2016 Mentor Award from the same organization.   In 2018, the national commercial real estate magazine, Real Estate Forum, named Sheri as a Woman of Influence and she was recognized as an outstanding broker by the National Association of Realtors that same year.

A native of southeast Texas, Sheri holds a BS in Business Management from Sam Houston State University and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.  

Ken-Duhon
Ken Duhon
Commissioner

Mr. Duhon has served as Chief Deputy - Law Enforcement and Assistant Chief Deputy Corrections for the past 25 years. Prior to his work in law enforcement, Kenneth spent time as the Assistant Administrator for Houston NW Medical Center in Houston, TX, as well as the Director of Personnel at Holy Cross Hospital in Austin, TX. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Lamar University.

Rick-Lewis
Rick Lewis
Commissioner

Mr. Lewis was Born in Terrell, Texas, April 30, 1955; Preparatory education, Spring H.S., Spring Texas (1973), Texas State University (B.S., 1976); legal education, Baylor School of Law (J.D. 1980) admitted to bar 1980, Texas; also admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eastern District of Texas. 

Mr. Lewis has been a partner in the firm Boneau and Lewis L.L.P since 1985. He also is a member of State Bar of Texas; Southeast Texas Trial Layers Association; Texas Trial Lawyers Association and is a Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation.

Larry-Grantham
Larry Grantham
Commissioner

Larry Grantham was appointed to the Sabine-Neches Navigation District Board in March 2020 by Judge Jeff Branick. Mr. Grantham is President of Sanitary Supply Company, Inc. He started working for Sanitary Supply part time in 1966 while attending Lamar University, and worked his way up, becoming President in 2000. Mr. Grantham was on the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce board in the 80's and chaired several committees. He was also appointed by the Mayor to the Beaumont Aviation Board. Mr. Grantham was on the Board of GCCA, Gulf Coast Conservation Association, which, later became Coastal Conservation Association and served as President of the Beaumont Chapter in 1990. Mr. Grantham also served on the Board of SME, Sales Marketing Executives and was elected in President in 1988.

Matthew-Kaufman
Matthew Kaufman
Deputy Director

Matthew Kaufman is the Deputy Director of the Sabine Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County Texas. Matthew joined the team in 2015 to assist on the Deepening Project and other issues facing the district. 
Matthew has held a wide array of roles including Civil, Mechanical, and Process Engineering in the Highway Transportation and Oil & Gas Industries where he worked on design, construction, and operational optimization projects. Before joining the Navigation District, Matthew was the Asset Engineer for the Gulf Coast of largest natural gas processing company in the U.S where he was responsible for the onshore and offshore pipelines and the gas processing plants in those systems. 
Matthew was born in Lubbock, Texas and has lived in Southeast Texas for over 20 years. He is a Lamar University Graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.

Larry-Fountain
Larry Fountain
Operations Manager

Larry Fountain is the Operations Manager of the Sabine-Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County Texas since 2008. He coordinates and manages the projects of the Navigation District as well as the Taylor’s Bayou Facility. Larry is a liaison to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Sabine-Neches Operations and Maintenance. 
Prior to coming to the Navigation District, Larry worked in several of the local refineries serving on the project management teams for plant turnarounds as well as Site Safety Supervisor, Project Scheduler and Project Planner. 
Larry was born in Beaumont, Texas and is a graduate of Beaumont-Charlton-Pollard High School and attended Lamar University.

Kyle-Reed
Kyle Reed
Project Manager

Kyle Reed is the Project Manager for the Sabine Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County Texas. Kyle joined the team to assist on the Deepening Project as well as other projects. The majority of Kyle’s experience has been involved in the oil and gas sector where he held roles such as design and engineering for one of the largest EPC firms in the world. Kyle was born in Nederland, TX and has lived in Southeast Texas for his entire life. He went to Nederland High School and then attended Lamar Institute of Technology for Computer Drafting and Lamar University for Mechanical Engineering.

Hope Cross
Hope Cross
Administrative Manager

Hope Cross is the Administrative Manager for the Sabine Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County Texas since June 2023. She was born in Jefferson County & raised in Orange County where she currently resides. She is a Phi Theta Kappa Graduate from Lamar State College Orange earning her Associates of Applied Science in Business Management along with multiple awards & certificates. She is also proud member of the CowBoy Church of Orange County. 

IMG_0005_1
Ronald Harris
Chief Financial Officer

Ronald Harris is the Chief Financial Officer for the Sabine-Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County since January 2024. Prior to joining SNND, he was Controller from 1994 to 2006 and Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer from 2006 to 2024 at Bo-Mac Contractors, Ltd. in Beaumont, Texas. He earned Bachelor and MBA degrees from Lamar University and is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas.

Rayann-Wyble
Rayann Wyble
Receptionist

Rayann Wyble is the Receptionist for Sabine Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County Texas since 2010. Rayann was born & raised in Jefferson county, graduating from Hamshire Fannett. She still resides in Jefferson County & is a proud member of the Discover Church of Fannett. 

Dewayne Layfield
DeWayne Layfield
General Counsel
James-Wyble
James Wyble
Lock Master

James Wyble is currently the Lock Master for the Sabine Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County since August 2007. James graduated from Louisiana Technical  College with an Associates  in Industrial Maintenance Technology.

Jveion McCullough
Jveion McCullough
Lock Keeper

Jveion McCullough is currently a Lock Keeper for the Sabine Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County Texas since August 2023. Jveion was born in Jefferson County & currently resides there. He graduated from Jefferson Hardin Jefferson.  

Joe Ceballos
Joe Ceballos
Lock Keeper

Joe Ceballos is currently a Lock Keeper for the Sabine Neches Navigation District of Jefferson County Texas since September 2023.  Joe was born & raised in Jefferson County.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Sabine-Neches Navigation District do?

The SNND is a political subdivision of the state of Texas and has operated in Jefferson Country for over 100 years. The SNND is responsible for managing, advocating for and sustaining the navigable waters of Jefferson County, Texas to improve the economy, environment and quality of life in southeast Texas.

What is the Sabine-Neches Waterway?

With 57 miles of deep draft channel, The Sabine-Neches Waterway is the longest federal deep-draft ship channel on the Texas Gulf Coast. It is home to two strategic commercial military seaports and more than 50 United States Coast Guard regulated waterfront facilities.

What is the Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement Project?

The Channel Improvement Project – or “Deepening Project” – is a federally authorized and funded project currently under construction to deepen the Sabine-Neches Waterway from 40 feet to 48 feet. The deepening project will generate widespread economic benefits for the local region, state, and nation, including billions in economic gains, billions in taxes, and tens of thousands of new jobs. You can learn more about the Deepening Project here. 

Didn’t find your answer? Contact us here

8180 Anchor Drive Port Arthur, Texas 77642 | 409.729.4588 | info@navigationdistrict.org