Neches River National Wildlife Refuge protects seven thousand acres of the upper Neches River in the rolling hills near Jacksonville, preserving an unusually intact East Texas waterway within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Its creation grew from a dispute after Dallas proposed a dam on the river and conservationists urged federal protection instead. Established in 2006, the refuge survived a court challenge when a federal judge ruled for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2010. It expanded over time, drew strong public backing, and opened fully in 2018, becoming both a conservation success and a public place for exploring river, lakes, sloughs, and trails.