43-600: Lavaca Bay ( / l ə v ˈ ɑː k ə / ) is a northwestern extension of the Matagorda Bay system found mostly in Calhoun County , Texas, United States. The ports of Port Lavaca and Point Comfort have been established on the bay, and are the main areas of human habitation. Linnville was located on the bay until its abandonment after the Great Raid of 1840 , and the major port of Indianola
86-544: A Swedish Lutheran community, is located on the shores of Keller Bay. The unincorporated towns of Alamo Beach , established around 1900, and Magnolia Beach , founded sometime thereafter, and named for the Magnolia figs produced in the area, are found north of the remains of the ghost town of Indianola . Lavaca Bay is the largest extension of the Matagorda Bay system and includes its own extensions of Chocolate Bay to
129-406: A healthy population to develop. Industry is heavy along the bay, with an abundance of natural gas and oil wells at all corners. Natural gas was discovered at the site in 1934, and oil was discovered the next year. Point Comfort is home to several industrial plants along the shore, including Alcoa, Union Carbide , DuPont , and Formosa Plastics Corp . Despite the restrictions on the bay that prevent
172-577: A major seaport, and became the second largest in the state (after Galveston ) by the 1860s. The two ports, and strategic control of Matagorda Bay in particular, became important during the American Civil War . Control of the bay shifted between the Union and Confederate forces several times. The Union presence in the area ended in June 1864. After the war, Indianola continued its growth, and had
215-615: A mostly muddy bottom with large amounts of oyster reefs and spoils islands formed by the dredging of several canals. The shores are lined with grassy bluffs and a thick cover of trees. The Lavaca River enters near the Port Lavaca Causeway as it traverses Lavaca Bay from Port Lavaca to Point Comfort at the center of the bay, which is also its narrowest width. The river flows 115 miles (190 km) southeast from its source in northeast Gonzales County , draining approximately 2,280 square miles (5,900 km) into Lavaca Bay. South of
258-423: A population of 5,000 in the 1870s. A hurricane in 1875 caused massive damage to the city. It was rebuilt on a smaller scale shortly thereafter, but a second and more intense hurricane made landfall in 1886 (the fifth most intense in U.S. history), causing even greater destruction. The following year, Indianola was completely abandoned. Although Lavaca was also significantly affected by the hurricanes, it survived as
301-487: A port, and again became the largest on the bay. It continues to hold this distinction today. It was renamed Port Lavaca in the late 19th century. Palacios was established around 1901, and Port O'Connor was founded on the bay in 1909. Before 1900, East Matagorda Bay was a free flowing extension, which formed the eastern segment of Matagorda Bay. Flooding and drainage issues caused by the Colorado River , which at
344-590: Is a large Gulf of Mexico bay on the Texas coast, lying in Calhoun and Matagorda counties and located approximately 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Corpus Christi , 143 miles (230 km) east-southeast of San Antonio , 108 miles (174 km) south-southwest of Houston , and 167 miles (269 km) south-southeast of Austin . It is one of seven major estuaries along the Gulf Coast of Texas and serves as
387-427: Is a renowned fishing location in the region, due to its status as a nutrient-rich estuary. The mainstays of the settlements on the bay include seafood processing, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. Commercial fishermen specialize in oyster, blue crab, and shrimp . Port Lavaca is the national leader in the processing of shrimp, and passed four million tons of seafood through its port in 1985 alone. Palacios houses
430-546: Is allowed in Keller Bay and Lavaca Bay south of Point Comfort, but is restricted along the eastern and northern coast and Chocolate Bay, and is conditionally approved in the remaining locations, including along the shore of Port Lavaca. A small tourism industry also fuels economic growth, spurred by the Port Lavaca State Fishing Pier found alongside the Port Lavaca Causeway. The pier once served as
473-554: Is situated along the waterfront of Lavaca Bay . It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area . The settlement was established during the first decade of the twentieth century and had a post office from 1907 to 1915. Public education in the community of Alamo Beach is provided by the Calhoun County Independent School District (CCISD). Alamo Beach first appeared as
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#1732802367069516-569: The Colorado River Delta Complex and Brown Cedar Cut. As a result of the seawater exchange, the bay's salinity is 19 parts per thousand (ppt), which is lower than the seawater average of 35 ppt. A wide variety of wildlife can be found in and around Matagorda Bay. The Mad Island-Oyster Lake conservation area, located on the eastern shore of Matagorda Bay, is a habitat for over 300 species of birds including songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl. More species of birds were found in
559-659: The Gulf Coast of Texas , and the third largest estuarine system in Texas behind Galveston Bay and Laguna Madre . It receives the discharge from the Colorado River and the Lavaca River, as well as numerous smaller creeks. Every second, approximately 150 cubic meters (40,000 U.S. gal) of water flows into the bay. Water exchange with the Gulf of Mexico occurs at Pass Cavallo , Matagorda Ship Channel, Greens Bayou,
602-710: The Matagorda Bay system is 2 meters (6.6 ft) deep, and covers approximately 1,093 square kilometers (422 sq mi). The main extensions include: Lavaca Bay , which extends westward to the mouth of the Lavaca River ; Tres Palacios Bay , which extends northeast to the mouth of the Tres Palacios River and East Matagorda Bay , which is nearly isolated from the system by the Colorado River delta. Other inlets include Turtle Bay, Carancahua Bay , Keller Bay, and Cox Bay. Together with its extensions, Matagorda Bay forms one of seven major estuaries along
645-482: The Port Lavaca Causeway in Point Comfort, on the bay's eastern shore, a heavy industrial sector is located, which lines the coast to Cox Bay, which extends to the east. South of Cox Bay is the larger Keller Bay extension, which extends the bay to its easternmost point near Olivia. Below the extension, is a narrow peninsula, bounded by Matagorda Bay to the south, which extends west to the mouth of Lavaca Bay. Across
688-496: The area than any other in the nation during the National Audubon Society 's annual Christmas Bird Count from 2000 to 2002. Other fauna located along the bay include bobcats , white-tailed deer , river otters , Texas horned lizards , reddish egret , white-tailed hawk , peregrine falcon , the piping plover and alligators . According to Texas Parks and Wildlife , the following fish have been caught in
731-497: The artifacts recovered are believed to have originated in France. The bay is noted for its superfund site, caused by mercury pollution from the heavy industry in Point Comfort (specifically Alcoa ), across the bay from the largest settlement of Port Lavaca. Although fishing has declined in recent years due to fears of contamination, the bay supports a large finfish population, and the efforts of environmental organizations and
774-522: The bay and the creeks that feed it. It is believed La Salle established his Fort St. Louis colony near the bay on Garcitas Creek. The first sizable human settlement on the bay shore was at the town of New Port, established in 1831 by Irish merchant John J. Linn as part of De León's colony . The site was later renamed Linnville, and grew to a population of 200 by 1839. It was described as "a place of considerable business" in Sketches of Texas in 1840 , and
817-465: The bay, which employ local residents. The Aluminum Company of America , Union Carbide , Du Pont , and Formosa Plastics all established plants in Point Comfort . The South Texas Nuclear Generating Station is found in nearby Bay City . Petroleum and natural gas were discovered in the bay in the 1930s. Maize , cotton , soybeans , turf, and rice grow well around the bay, especially in
860-528: The bay. In 1722 Spanish built a fort, Presidio La Bahia , and Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga on the site of Fort Saint Louis. The port of Linnville was established on Matagorda Bay in 1831, and served as a main port for the Republic of Texas . The Great Comanche Raid of 1840 destroyed the town and forced the inhabitants to flee to the nearby Labbacca, which would later become known as Port Lavaca. Lavaca or la vaca , Spanish for cow,
903-450: The bay: striped bass , gafftopsail catfish , Atlantic croaker , black drum , red drum , southern flounder , barred grunt , hake , skipjack herring , crevalle jack , ladyfish , Gulf menhaden , pigfish , smooth puffer , sand seatrout , spotted seatrout , blacktip shark , gray snapper , southern stingray , Gulf toadfish and tripletail . The bay serves as a nursery for finfish , shrimp and crabs. The Matagorda Bay system
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#1732802367069946-528: The causeway across the bay but was replaced in the 1960s and converted into a fishing pier of 3,200 feet (980 m), billed as the longest in the world. However this pier is now memorialized by its remains, posts, and small platforms no longer accessible from the shore stand alongside the modern causeway. 28°39′36″N 96°35′41″W / 28.66000°N 96.59472°W / 28.66000; -96.59472 Matagorda Bay Matagorda Bay ( / ˌ m æ t ə ˈ ɡ ɔːr d ə / )
989-614: The colony of Fort St. Louis along the bay's shore after missing the entrance to the Mississippi River . Half of the colonists were killed by disease, and the other half, save for five children, were killed by Karankawa Indians . It was afterward referred to as a "lost colony." The Indians kept the children until they were rescued by the Spanish during the Alonso De León and Domingo Terán de los Ríos expeditions near
1032-408: The destruction of Indianola, and became a prominent shipping location and national leader in shrimp production . Across the bay and currently connected by Texas State Highway 35 , the town of Point Comfort is found. It was incorporated in 1953 at a citywide vote and is known for its large aluminium and petrochemical plants built in the 1960s. The small town of Olivia , which was founded in 1892 as
1075-548: The federal government have pressured Alcoa to reduce the polluted areas. Lavaca Bay was formed when the sea level rose following the last ice age, flooding the Lavaca River-Garcitas Creek basin. The name comes from the Spanish adaptation of the French vache or cow, given to the area by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle for the sightings of Plains Bison , which were once common near
1118-437: The fertile delta region. Alamo Beach, Texas Alamo Beach is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Calhoun County , Texas , United States. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 254. It is located just north of the junction of Farm Roads 2717 and 2760 , approximately two miles southeast of Port Lavaca and northwest of Magnolia Beach . The community
1161-534: The largest blue crab processing plant in the United States, and is home to the only individually quick frozen shrimp plant in Texas. Recreational fishing also contributes to the local economies via tourism. Tourists often flock to the Port Lavaca State Fishing Pier, which is a major point of interest for fishermen. Other activities for visitors include hunting, oyster roasts, beach combing and birding. Several manufacturing complexes have been erected along
1204-627: The late 1680s, French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle built a colony dubbed Fort St. Louis in this area. A June 1996 dig at the site that was believed to be the correct location revealed eight French cannon. This led archeologists to excavate the Keeran Ranch site in the area, during 1996–2002; they concluded that the Spanish Presidio La Bahía fort "was built on the La Salle settlement". Some 10 percent of
1247-461: The mouth of numerous streams, most notably the Lavaca and Colorado Rivers . The Texas seaport of Port Lavaca is located on the system's northwestern extension of Lavaca Bay . The city of Palacios is found on northeastern extension of Tres Palacios Bay , and Port O'Connor is located on the southwestern tip of the main bay's shore. The ghost town of Indianola , which was a major port before it
1290-405: The mouth of the Lavaca River. Lavaca Bay hosts a wide range of finfish including Black drum , Flounder , Redfish , Sheepshead and Speckled trout , however it suffers from mercury pollution. An Alcoa plant in Point Comfort dumped an estimated 67 pounds (30 kg) of mercury into the bay per day in the 1960s, affecting 64 square miles (170 km). A mercury superfund was established at
1333-493: The mouth on the western shore, past the Matagorda Ship Channel, which runs through the middle of the bay to Point Comfort, the town of Magnolia Beach is found. To the northwest is the town of Alamo Beach, located on Gailinipper Point, from which a major oyster reef begins across the bay to Point Comfort. The point is located on the northeastern extreme of a headland that juts to the north, forming Chocolate Bay to
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1376-415: The production of fish and shellfish along the superfund site, seafood harvesting is a major industry. However, it is not as prominent as it was in the 1920s, when Port Lavaca led the nation in shrimp production, leading to the construction of a quick-freezing plant. Today, shrimping is only allowed south of the Port Lavaca Causeway, due to the north's classification as a nursery location. Shellfish production
1419-434: The site, and the processing of oysters and blue crab in certain locations was prohibited. A study revealed that the bay's detritus is more than ten times as contaminated as nearby Keller Bay. The pollution issue is a main concern of citizens of Calhoun County, and has attracted demonstrations against industry in Point Comfort. However, Alcoa has worked with state and federal officials, spending $ 110 million to reduce
1462-487: The size of the superfund site, as part of a 2005 settlement. Cooperation aims to create 70 additional acres of salt marsh and 11 acres of oyster reef habitat. Locals have estimated that the only area still affected by contamination is just offshore from the Alcoa plant. Signs warning boaters of the water's toxicity are found at the site. The stigma attached to the bay due to reports of pollution has discouraged fishing, enabling
1505-472: The southwest, Cox Bay to the east, and Keller Bay to the southeast. The Lavaca River as well as Garcitas Creek and Venado Creek supply the bay with fresh water from the north. Channels have been dredged to connect the bay to the Intracoastal Waterway , which runs to the south. On average, the bay is about 4 feet (1 m) in depth. Unlike most of the Matagorda Bay system, Lavaca Bay has
1548-462: The specialties of the area. The fertile land near the bay is ideal for farming, especially for the propagation of rice. Early European records suggest that the bay and the surrounding area went by the names Espíritu Santo and Costa y Bahía de San Bernardo . Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda 's map from the late 1510s appears to be the first documentation of the bay. In 1685, French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle established
1591-476: The split and forming the isolated East Matagorda Bay. In 1992, the river was diverted back to the bay. The shoreline of the bay is included in the Texas Coastal Plain . At the eastern end, near the Colorado River delta, there is a swampy terrain, with an abundance of wetlands and tidal marshes. Extended coastal prairies supporting native grasses, can be found throughout the area. On average,
1634-461: The time emptied into the bay, precipitated a massive dredging campaign in the 1920s. Flooding was not remedied by the dredging, as sediment deposited in the bay and formed a tidal marsh that grew at 500 acres (2.0 km ) a year. As a result, local citizens decided to change the course of the Colorado River in 1934 to bypass Matagorda Bay into the Gulf of Mexico , the dredging from this project causing
1677-529: The west. Port Lavaca is found north of Chocolate Bay, back at the Port Lavaca Causeway. North of the causeway is a large circular extension, forming the northern boundary of the Lavaca Bay. The northwestern extreme is formed by Garcitas Cove, fed by Garcitas Creek, which flows 48 miles (77 km) from its source in DeWitt County . To the east is Venado Creek, which converges with the bay, northwest of
1720-437: Was destroyed by two hurricanes in the late 19th century, is also found on the bay. The bay is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Matagorda Peninsula . Its shore, especially near the Colorado River delta, provides a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. The wildlife serves as a basis for the birding and fishing tourism, and is an essential component of the production of seafood, specifically shrimp and blue crab , which are
1763-407: Was found near the confluence with the main Matagorda Bay, until the town's final destruction following the massive hurricane of 1886 . Smaller communities include Olivia , Alamo Beach and Magnolia Beach . Lavaca Bay is approximately 82 miles (130 km) northeast of Corpus Christi , about 121 miles (190 km) southwest of Houston , and 145 miles (230 km) southeast of San Antonio . In
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1806-514: Was founded in the wake of the Comanche Raid in 1841. It replaced Linnville as the main port on Matagorda Bay. However, the sandbar-heavy Lavaca Bay caused some navigational problems for ships. As a result, Lavaca was surpassed by Indianola as the main port on Matagorda Bay in the 1850s, even though the sandbars were dredged later in the decade. Indianola had been founded in 1846 as a landing place for German immigrants. It rapidly developed into
1849-479: Was used extensively during the early years of the Republic of Texas . Future San Antonio Mayor Samuel Maverick owned a warehouse in the town, along with many other prominent Texans. The town was destroyed during the Great Raid of 1840 , orchestrated by the Comanche Indians, and was later abandoned. Port Lavaca or Lavaca, developed after the abandonment of Linnville. It grew substantially following
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