1993 Map of Bastian Bay

About this map

Industrial extraction and tidal hydrology define this coastal landscape in Plaquemines Parish, where the West Bastian Bay Oil and Gas Field sits amidst a complex network of marshes and open water. The map documents a territory heavily modified by human engineering, featuring numerous Pipelines and Canals that cut through the natural flow of Bastian Bayou and Huertes Bayou. Along the coastline, Bastian Island and Shell Island serve as fragile barriers between the interior bays and the open Gulf of Mexico. Scattered infrastructure including a Pumping Station, several Platforms, and various Drill Holes indicate the intensive resource recovery operations active during this era. The waterway system is intricate, with Grand Bayou Pass and Chaland Pass providing critical connections between the marshy interior and the sea.