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1952 Map of Hawk Island

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Hawk Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The coastal interface of Laguna Madre and the South Texas brushland is meticulously documented in this early 1950s survey. The landscape is defined by the transition from shallow tidal flats of sand and mud to the established marshes of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. This area serves as a critical hydrological junction where the Arroyo Colorado meets the lagoon, bordered by significant landmarks such as Goose Hill and various unnamed spoil banks created by dredging.

Inland, the survival of ranching operations is evidenced by a network of named water sources like Loma Alta Well, Granjeno Well, and Las Ovejas Well (Windmill). These wells, often located at the end of unimproved private tracks, represent the primary human footprint in a region dominated by ephemeral wetlands and salt flats. The presence of Hawk Island and Mud Island within the lagoon illustrates the shifting coastal topography before modern development altered these shores.