1998 Map of Belle Isle

About this map

Belle Isle stands as a prominent topographical feature in this coastal St. Mary Parish landscape, surrounded by the intricate hydrology of the Atchafalaya Delta State Wildlife Management Area. The region is defined by an evolving network of waterways, where the Wax Lake Outlet and New Pass discharge into Atchafalaya Bay. This late 20th-century data shows a landscape of constant transition, with shifting mudflats and marshlands including Negro Hammock and Grass Island. Human activity in these wetlands is represented by an extensive Gas Field and various pipelines that cut across the meandering courses of Leopard Bayou and Hog Bayou. The survey reveals the relationship between industrial extraction and the preservation of coastal marsh environments, anchored by landmarks like Belle Isle Lake and Belle Isle Point.