2022 Map of Potrero Cortado

About this map

Padre Island National Seashore dominates the eastern portion of this coastal survey, where the barrier island meets the Gulf of Mexico. The landscape is defined by the hypersaline waters of the Laguna Madre, featuring shallow channels and sand flats such as The Hole and Middle Ground. To the west, a series of "potreros"—elevated land areas or pastures—rise from the wetlands, including Potrero Cortado, Potrero Grande, and Potrero de las Canelas. These landforms, alongside Potrero Farias and Potrero Lopeno, reflect the ranching heritage and geographic nomenclature of this isolated stretch of Kenedy County. The map provides an intricate look at the tidal flats and salt marshes that separate Padre Island from the mainland, preserving a snapshot of this delicate environment before shifting sands and coastal processes alter the terrain.