2016 Map of Matagorda

About this map

The town of Matagorda sits at a critical hydrologic junction where the Colorado River meets the Texas coast, its street grid oriented to the riverbank. This coastal landscape is defined by the heavy engineering of the Intracoastal Waterway, which cuts across the marshland north of East Matagorda Bay. The map documents a complex network of estuarine features, from the protected waters of Burkhart Cove and Boiler Bayou to the expansive Matagorda Peninsula that shields the bay from the Gulf of Mexico. Local history is anchored by the Matagorda Cem and numerous family-named landmarks like McNab Lake and Gottschalk Lake. The survey details the shifting delta environment, noting landforms such as Selkirk Island, Baxter Island, and Egret Island, alongside the artificial passage of the Culver Cut.