1974 Map of Plumb Bayou

About this map

Plumb Bayou winds through the wetlands of southern Louisiana in the 1970s, where the intersection of natural waterways and industrial energy development defines the landscape. This orthophotomap reveals the intricate networks of the West Deer Island Oil Field and Deer Island Oil and Gas Field, showing the extensive system of access canals and pipelines that cut across the marsh. The boundary between St Mary Parish and Terrebonne Parish crosses these waters near Creole Pass and the distinctive Halters Island (Rabbit Island). Navigational markers such as the Light at Halters Island Point and various platforms in Atchafalaya Bay serve as essential guides for the maritime and industrial traffic navigating between Plumb Lake and the open gulf waters. The map provides a high-resolution view of the shifting delta environment before coastal changes accelerated in the late twentieth century.