 The river has been known by several names.The indigenous people called it the Nabasoto, Domingo Terán de los Ríos called it San Cypriano, Fray Isidro Félix de Espinosa called it the San Buenaventura, and in 1727, Pedro de Rivera y Villalón named it the Navasota.The Navasota River is dammed to form several lakes, including Lake Mexia, Springfield Lake, Joe Echols Lake, Lake Groesbeck, Lake Limestone, Martin Lake, and Lake Fort Parker in Fort Parker State Park.