1973 Map of Jackass Bay

About this map

Lake Fausse Pointe and the surrounding wetlands of the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway define this landscape during the early 1970s. The region is a dense network of waterways, where larger bodies like Dauterive Lake and Grand Lake are linked by a labyrinth of bayous, including the curiously named Four Hundred Dollar Bayou, Little Gonsoulin Bayou, and Alligator Bayou. Human activity is centered on the water, evidenced by the Grand Bayou Mission and various infrastructure such as a Platform, Pier, and Boat Ramp near the southern shore of Dauterive Lake. The map captures an era of industrial extraction within the swamp, marking the Chicot Gas Field and scattered Oil Wells amidst the cypress and tupelo terrain. Distinctive landmarks like Mestayer Point and Eagle Point provide navigational reference points along the parish line between St. Martin Parish and Iberia Parish.