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The low rainfall revealed a hidden shipwreck at the bottom of the Neches River, but its location was known to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) since surveys in the 2000s and the site is protected under state and federal law.
The wreck, sometimes visible to boaters and others using the river, is one of more than a dozen vessels that were abandoned after World War I.
Two of the wrecks were discovered, but not identified, in 1980 during a cultural resources management survey. Eight wrecks were reported to the THC in 2004 and a sixth was discovered during a cultural resources management survey in 2006.
The THC’s Marine Archeology Program also conducted an acoustic remote sensing survey of a 5-mile section of the Neches River in 2019 and documented more than two dozen shipwrecks including the EFC ships and other vessels. Altogether nearly 40 wooden-hulled EFC vessels are in east Texas rivers, comprising one of the largest collections of WWI vessel abandonment sites in the United States.
Many sites are protected under state and federal laws, which include penalties and fines for those who disturb these wrecks. Additionally, the wrecks can be dangerous for amateur visitors who lack proper equipment and training.