2012 Map of Smith Bayou

About this map

Gulf of Mexico coastal waters dominate this maritime survey of southwestern Louisiana at the mouth of Smith Bayou. This chart reflects the dynamic and fragile nature of the coastline in Cameron Parish, where the land-water interface is characterized by narrow inlets and the vast expanse of open water. The drainage from Smith Bayou into the gulf provides a focused look at the local hydrography before the shoreline dissolves into the sea. Because this map consists almost entirely of open water and a small coastal fringe, it serves as a precise record of the shoreline position and the relationship between the bayou and the surrounding marshland during the early 21st century.