1975 Map of Grand Bayou

About this map

The salt marshes and coastal ridges of Cameron Parish are captured in this 1975 orthophotograph, providing a detailed visual of the Louisiana shoreline before significant modern coastal erosion. This imagery highlights the intricate drainage patterns where Grand Bayou snakes through the wetlands, eventually connecting toward the eastern edge of Calcasieu Lake. The southern boundary is defined by the sweeping coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, separated from the inland marshes by a series of distinct parallel ridges. These linear landforms, characteristic of the chenier plain, show the complex geography of the region as it transitioned from open water to marshland over centuries. The map's photographic detail allows for the study of field patterns, oil and gas infrastructure, and early coastal access roads that were present during the mid-1970s.