2015 Map of Ellerslie

About this map

The low-lying coastal marshes of St. Mary Parish are defined by an intricate network of natural bayous and industrial water management projects. South Bend and Ellerslie anchor the southeastern corner of the map, situated along the banks of Bayou Sale and the route of La-317. This area serves as a transition between the inland waterways and the open waters of West Cote Blanche Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The landscape is heavily altered by man-made navigation and drainage features, including the Intracoastal Waterway, the British-American Canal, and Williams Storage Canal. These waterways cut through the wetland landscape, bypassing natural features like Cow Island Bayou and Black Creek Bayou. To the north, Upper Island and Lower Island sit near the edge of Jaws Bay, while the interior marshes are dotted with features such as Fresh Water Lake and the winding Rice Bayou.