1952 Map of Green Island

About this map

Green Island (Bird Sanctuary) sits as a focal point within the coastal waters of Laguna Madre, where the boundaries of Willacy and Cameron counties meet. This 1952 topographic survey illustrates a transition in the South Texas landscape, documenting the established Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and the engineering of the Intracoastal Waterway. The map details the artificial topography created by the dredging of the shipping channel, specifically the chain of Spoil Banks that parallel the deep-water passage. To the east, the barrier of Padre Island is depicted with its Shifting Sand Dunes, protecting the shallow Sand and Mud Flats that characterize this tidal environment. The presence of a Tower and multiple lights along the waterway highlights the area's importance for coastal navigation during the early 1950s.