San Antonio Bay
San Antonio Bay | |
---|---|
Location | Texas Gulf Coast |
Coordinates | 28°18′19″N 96°44′17″W / 28.30528°N 96.73806°W |
River sources | Guadalupe River |
Ocean/sea sources | Gulf of Mexico |
Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 143,000 acres (58,000 ha)[1]: 6 |
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 (89 km) northeast of Corpus Christi and 130 miles (209 km) southeast of San Antonio. It is protected from the Gulf of Mexico by Matagorda Island, leaving only relatively small and distant outlets to the Gulf for little mixing of bay and Gulf waters. The remoteness of the bay has prevented the establishment of major ports as seen on Aransas Bay and Corpus Christi Bay, to the south.
San Antonio Bay is one of seven major estuaries along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is found on the southwest portion of the bay. The diverse wildlife on these shores make up for the lack of a sizable human settlement.
History
The
After the arrival of white settlers to the baytown of Hynesville in the 19th century, the Karankawa began to commit offenses against the settlers, including the unsanctioned slaughter of their livestock. As a result, the settlers engaged the Indians at the 1852 Battle of Hynes Bay, near the San Antonio Bay extension of Hynes Bay. The Karankawa were swiftly defeated, and the survivors agreed to never return; finding refuge across the Rio Grande in Tamaulipas.[5] A few years later, the Hynes extension began to fill with mud, leaving it shallow and hard to navigate.[2] Reports from Hynesville suggest that alligators infested the bay, killing a few residents.[6]
At the beginning of the 20th century, Preston R. Austin set out to build a new port on the western shore. He established the town of
Features
The land near the bay lies on the
On average, the San Antonio Bay system is 2 meters (6.6 ft) deep, and covers approximately 531 square kilometers (205 sq mi). The system is made up of the bay itself and its extensions. The main extensions include: Espiritu Santo Bay, to the bay's east; Hynes Bay, to the northwest, and Guadalupe Bay due north.[9]
Together with its extensions, San Antonio Bay forms one of seven major estuaries along the Gulf Coast of Texas, receiving the discharge from the converged San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers.[10] Every second, approximately 116 cubic meters (31,000 U.S. gal) of water flows into the bay. Minimal seawater exchange with the Gulf of Mexico occurs at Cedar Bayou and Pass Cavallo.[9] As a result of the seawater exchange, the bay's salinity is 13 parts per thousand (ppt),[9] compared to the seawater average of 35 ppt.[11]
Ecosystem
A wide variety of wildlife can be found in and around San Antonio Bay. According to
The shores along the bay, specifically the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, are home to countless birds including the endangered
Industry
Nearly detached from the Gulf of Mexico by barrier islands, San Antonio Bay does not support a large shipping industry. The only port of merit on the bay is Seadrift, where a shipping channel has been dredged to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.[15] Most inhabitants near the bay work at chemical, crab-picking, and aluminum plants.[8]
For centuries, oyster farming has been a mainstay of the surrounding economy. However, in December 2009, commercial harvesting was suspended after the norovirus was discovered in several exported crops, resulting in a recall.[16]
References
- ^ "Guadalupe Estuary: An Analysis of Bay Segment Boundaries, Physical Characteristics, and Nutrient Processes" (PDF). Texas Water Development Board. Texas Department of Water Resources. March 1981. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Huson, Hobart (February 22, 2010). "Hynes Bay". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ISBN 0-89096-661-3.
- ^ Weddle, Robert S. (February 22, 2010). "Toboso Island". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ Hardin, Stephen L. (February 22, 2010). "Battle of Hynes Bay". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ Huson, Hobart (February 22, 2010). "Hynesville, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- ^ Huson, Hobart (February 22, 2010). "Austwell, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- ^ a b Rubert, Rebecca (February 22, 2010). "Seadrift, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d "San Antonio Bay". GulfBase. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- ^ "Guadalupe Estuary (San Antonio Bay)". Texas Water Development Board. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Anderson, Genny (October 8, 2008). "Seawater Composition". Marine Science. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ "Water Body Records for San Antonio Bay". Texas Parks and Wildlife. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. March 1, 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- ^ "Aransas National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. December 6, 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- ^ Brezosky, Lynn (June 21, 2010). "Rehabilitated birds spread their wings in Aransas refuge". San Antonio Express News. p. 1A.
- ^ Leatherwood, Art (February 22, 2010). "San Antonio Bay". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ "San Antonio Bay oysters recalled". KSLA-TV. Raycom Media. December 7, 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2010.