1984 Map of Mud Lake

About this map

St Francis River meanders through the heart of this low-lying alluvial landscape along the boundary of St Francis and Lee counties. The area is defined by a complex network of ancient waterways and oxbow remnants, including the prominent crescent of Mud Lake and the smaller Millseed Lake. These features reflect a legacy of shifting river channels and seasonal flooding that dictated the placement of early settlements. Small communities like Lakeside, Rawlinson, and Shannondale are positioned at the margins of these wetlands, connected by a lattice of drainage features such as Blackfish Bayou and Fifteenmile Bayou. The presence of landmarks like Council Bar along the river and the convergence of Frenchman Bayou and North Alligator Bayou further south highlight the intricate hydrology of the Arkansas Delta in the early 1980s.