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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.
Joe Johnson is a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School. He holds a bachelors in Business Administration and a minor in Economics from Texas Southern University. As a proponent of community development, Mr. Johnson is presently serving as a volunteer on several boards: The Port Arthur Industrial Group, Flint Hill’s Community Advisory Board, The West Side Community Advisory Group, and the Texas Clean Energy Coalition.

Kristen-Perricone
Kristen Coleman
Executive Manager

Kristen Coleman is currently the Executive Manager for Sabine-Neches Navigation District where she has served since 2009. Prior to the Sabine-Neches Navigation District, Kristen managed several different organizations in accounting, and business management for 6 years. Kristen serves as a member of Kairos Ministry and is a resident of Hardin County, Texas.

Elizabeth-Santa-Cruz
Elizabeth Santa Cruz
Office Manager

Elizabeth Santa Cruz is currently the Office Manager for Sabine-Neches Navigation District where she has served since January 2018. Prior to working at the Navigation District, she worked in the financial industry as a Branch Office Administrator for Edward Jones Investments. She has also worked at Hope Women's Resource Clinic in Beaumont as the Development Coordinator. Elizabeth was born in San Antonio, Texas. She graduated from Our Lady Academy in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and went on to attend college at University of Southern Mississippi.

Larry-Fountain
Larry Fountain
Operations Manager

Larry Fountain is the Operations Manager of the Sabine-Neches Navigation District where he has served since 2008. In this role 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.

Rayann-Wyble
Rayann Wyble
Receptionist

Rayann Wyble is currently the Receptionist for Sabine-Neches Navigation District where she has served since 2010. Rayann is a resident of Jefferson County, Texas. Rayann is a member of Grace Community Baptist Church was she often helps with the children’s nursery. 

Rayann was born in Beaumont Texas and is a graduate of Hamshire-Fannett High School.

Hubert-Oxford,-lll
Hubert Oxford, lll
General Counsel

Mr. Oxford currently serves as General Counsel for both the Lower Neches Valley Authority and the Sabine-Neches Navigation District. Previously, he served on Texas Air Control Board, Member, Lamar University System, Past General Counsel, Lamar University System, Regent, United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, United States Commissioner, Clean Air Study Committee, Texas 60th Legislature, Chairman, Texas Government Reorganization Committee, Texas 70th Legislature, Board of Directors State Bar of Texas and Grievance Committee, Rules Committee Civil Justice Reform Act, Advisory Committee for Eastern District of Texas, Member, Texas Oil Spill Commission, and Member, Texas Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. 

James-Wyble
James Wyble
Lock Keeper
jean-claude-butler
Jean-Claude Butler
Lock Keeper

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