1964 Map of Lake Penchant

About this map

Lake Penchant dominates this mid-century survey of the Terrebonne Parish wetlands, where the intricate hydrology of coastal Louisiana is captured before major modern shoreline changes. This watery landscape is defined by an extensive network of natural distributaries and man-made waterways, including the winding Bayou Penchant and Copasaw Bayou. The presence of a Gas Field and a specific Drill Hole in the northern portion of the map indicates the early industrial footprint of oil and gas exploration in these marshes. In the south, the terrain transitions into larger open waters like Lake De Cade and Jug Lake, separated by landforms such as Bayou Mauvais Bois. This record is essential for understanding the historical configuration of local bayous, including Turtle Bayou and Little Carencro Bayou, and the early canals like Brady Canal that began altering the natural flow of the basin.