Guadalupe Bay
Encyclopedia
Guadalupe Bay is a slender inlet of San Antonio Bay
in Calhoun County, Texas
, United States
, near the settlements of Seadrift
and Long Mott
. It is fed by the Guadalupe River
, and is the site of the river's two mouths.
, which was named in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
by Alonso De León
.
The bay formed as the Guadalupe River delta
discharge extended into San Antonio Bay
, forming the subdelta headland that can now be found between the Hynes and Guadalupe Bays. While the bay's formation as it is known today was not finalized until about 500 years ago (and is continuing to change), human settlement predates the current formation. The Karankawa
Indians resided on the Guadalupe Bay sporadically during the past 2,500 years. Archeological evidence suggests that during the active periods, the Karankawa migrated seasonally between the bays and the inland. During the winter months, groups of about 500 would arrive at the bay to fish, hunt and collect shellfish. The salinity of the bay decreased as the San Antonio River
joined with the Guadalupe River about 1,500 years ago, diminishing the shellfish population.
By 1967, dredging was complete on the Victoria Barge Canal from Victoria
to the Intracoastal Waterway
, and ran along the shore of Guadalupe Bay. During the construction, ancient artifacts and midden
s were discovered. Shortly thereafter, the Guadalupe Bay Archeological Site was established.
, redfish
, sheepshead
and spotted seatrout
. In the upper reaches, the freshwater varieties of channel catfish
, flathead catfish
and gar
have been caught. Oyster
s are native to the bay, but cannot be harvested due to restrictions by the Texas Department of State Health Services
. Shrimping is likewise prohibited due to its classification as a nursery bay.
San Antonio Bay
San Antonio Bay is a bay on the Texas Gulf coast situated between Matagorda and Aransas Bay. It consists mainly of the combined waters of the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers, and is located at the mouth of the Guadalupe River, about 55 miles northeast of Corpus Christi and 130 miles southeast...
in Calhoun County, Texas
Calhoun County, Texas
Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, the population was 20,647. Its county seat is Port Lavaca. It is a part of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, near the settlements of Seadrift
Seadrift, Texas
Seadrift is a city in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,352 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and Long Mott
Long Mott, Texas
Long Mott is an unincorporated community in western Calhoun County, Texas, United States, located south of the junction of State Highway 185 and Farm to Market Road 2235. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-References:...
. It is fed by the Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River may refer to:*Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River , in southern Spain*Guadalope, a river in northern Spain...
, and is the site of the river's two mouths.
History
The etymology of Guadalupe Bay derived from the Guadalupe RiverGuadalupe River
Guadalupe River may refer to:*Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River , in southern Spain*Guadalope, a river in northern Spain...
, which was named in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe , also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary.According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady...
by Alonso De León
Alonso De León
Alonso de León wasexplorer and governor, who led several expeditions into the area that is now northeastern Mexico and southern Texas.-Early life:...
.
The bay formed as the Guadalupe River delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
discharge extended into San Antonio Bay
San Antonio Bay
San Antonio Bay is a bay on the Texas Gulf coast situated between Matagorda and Aransas Bay. It consists mainly of the combined waters of the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers, and is located at the mouth of the Guadalupe River, about 55 miles northeast of Corpus Christi and 130 miles southeast...
, forming the subdelta headland that can now be found between the Hynes and Guadalupe Bays. While the bay's formation as it is known today was not finalized until about 500 years ago (and is continuing to change), human settlement predates the current formation. The Karankawa
Karankawa
Karankawa were a group of Native American peoples, now extinct as a tribal group, who played a pivotal part in early Texas history....
Indians resided on the Guadalupe Bay sporadically during the past 2,500 years. Archeological evidence suggests that during the active periods, the Karankawa migrated seasonally between the bays and the inland. During the winter months, groups of about 500 would arrive at the bay to fish, hunt and collect shellfish. The salinity of the bay decreased as the San Antonio River
San Antonio River
The San Antonio River is a major waterway that originates in central Texas in a cluster of springs in north central San Antonio, approximately four miles north of downtown, and follows a roughly southeastern path through the state. It eventually feeds into the Guadalupe River about ten miles from...
joined with the Guadalupe River about 1,500 years ago, diminishing the shellfish population.
By 1967, dredging was complete on the Victoria Barge Canal from Victoria
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
to the Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
, and ran along the shore of Guadalupe Bay. During the construction, ancient artifacts and midden
Midden
A midden, is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics , and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation...
s were discovered. Shortly thereafter, the Guadalupe Bay Archeological Site was established.
Ecosystem
Finfish found in the bay include Black drumBlack drum
The Black Drum is a saltwater fish similar to its cousin, the Red Drum. It is the only species in the genus Pogonias. Though most specimens are generally found in the 5-30 lb range, the black drum is well known as the largest of all the drum family with some specimens reaching excesses of...
, redfish
Redfish
Redfish is a common name for several species of fish. It is most commonly applied to members of the deep-sea genus Sebastes, or the reef dwelling snappers, Lutjanus. It is also applied to the slimeheads or roughies , and the alfonsinos ....
, sheepshead
Sheepshead
Sheepshead or Sheephead is a trick-taking card game related to the Skat family of games. It is the Americanized version of a card game that originated in Central Europe in the late 18th century under the German name Schafkopf. Although Schafkopf literally means "sheepshead", it has nothing to do...
and spotted seatrout
Spotted Seatrout
The spotted seatrout also known as speckled trout,or spotted weakfish is a common estuary fish found in the southern United States...
. In the upper reaches, the freshwater varieties of channel catfish
Channel catfish
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...
, flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
The flathead catfish , also called the yellow cat, opelousas, and shovelhead cat, are large North American freshwater catfish. This is the only species of the genus Pylodictis...
and gar
Gar
In American English the name gar is strictly applied to members of the Lepisosteidae, a family including seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine, waters of eastern North America, Central America, and the Caribbean islands.-Etymology:In...
have been caught. Oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s are native to the bay, but cannot be harvested due to restrictions by the Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Department of State Health Services is a state agency of Texas. The department was created by House Bill 2292 of the 78th Texas Legislature in 2003 through the merging of four state agencies: the Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas...
. Shrimping is likewise prohibited due to its classification as a nursery bay.