2012 Map of Pilottown

About this map

Pilottown stands as a critical outpost at the edge of the Mississippi River Delta, serving as the essential station for river pilots navigating the shifting channels of the lower river. This survey captures the intricate network of passes and bayous where the Mississippi River begins its final reach toward the Gulf. The landscape is defined by its volatile hydrology, featuring family-named landmarks like Jaquines Island, Draugenes Island, and Mary Bowers Pond alongside ominously named waterways like Dead Man Bayou. To the west, the presence of Hospital Pond and Bay Chalon suggests a history of maritime service and refuge in this isolated environment. While Venice Boat Harbor Rd provides the only terrestrial link at the top of the sheet, the rest of the geography is dictated by the water, from the wide Southwest Pass to the narrow Octave Pass.