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1952 Map of Mesquite Bay

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Mesquite Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge dominates the upper reaches of this coastal survey, stretching across the Blackjack Peninsula where the landscape is dotted with several Carlos Windmills and gas wells. This environment is defined by an intricate network of marshes and tidal flats, including Mustang Slough and Redfish Slough, which separate the mainland from the barrier system of Matagorda Island.

Navigational history is etched into the waters of San Antonio Bay and Mesquite Bay by the prominent Intracoastal Waterway, which cuts a straight path through the natural reefs and shoals. Detailed hydrographic data reveals the complex submerged topography of Ayres Reef and the Second Chain of Islands, while the interior of the islands features numerous isolated bodies of water like Big Brundrett Lake. This map captures the mid-century intersection of industrial exploration and critical conservation efforts along the Texas Gulf Coast.