northwestern extension system found texas united_states ports point comfort established bay main areas human located bay abandonment great raid major port found near confluence main town final destruction following massive hurricane smaller communities include olivia approximately miles northeast miles southwest houston miles southeast san_antonio bay noted site caused mercury pollution heavy industry point comfort specifically bay largest settlement fishing declined recent years fears contamination bay supports large population efforts environmental organizations federal government pressured reduce areas history formed sea level rose following ice age flooding basin comes spanish adaptation french cow given area french explorer sightings common near bay creeks feed believed established fort louis colony near bay sizable human settlement bay shore town established irish merchant colony site later renamed grew population described place considerable business sketches texas extensively early years future san_antonio mayor owned warehouse town prominent town destroyed great raid orchestrated later abandoned developed abandonment grew substantially following destruction prominent shipping location national leader shrimp production bay currently connected town point comfort found incorporated vote known large aluminium plants built 1960s small town olivia founded swedish lutheran community located shores unincorporated towns established founded named produced area found north remains ghost town features largest extension system includes extensions chocolate bay southwest cox bay east southeast creek supply bay freshwater north channels connect bay runs south average bay feet depth unlike system muddy large amounts reefs islands formed canals shores lined grassy thick cover trees enters near port causeway traverses point comfort center bay width river flows miles southeast source northeast draining approximately square miles km2 south port causeway point comfort bay eastern shore heavy industrial sector located lines coast extends east south cox bay larger extension extends bay easternmost point near olivia extension narrow peninsula bounded south extends west mouth mouth western shore past runs middle bay town found northwest town located major reef begins bay point comfort point located northeastern extreme north forming chocolate bay west found north chocolate bay port causeway north causeway large circular extension forming northern boundary northwestern extreme formed fed flows miles source east creek bay northwest mouth ecosystem hosts wide range including black drum trout suffers mercury pollution plant point comfort dumped estimated pounds mercury bay day 1960s affecting square miles km2 mercury established site processing blue crab certain locations prohibited study revealed bay times contaminated nearby pollution issue main concern citizens attracted demonstrations industry point comfort worked state federal officials spending million reduce size site settlement cooperation aims create additional acres salt marsh acres reef habitat locals estimated area affected contamination offshore plant signs warning water found site stigma attached bay reports pollution discouraged fishing enabling healthy population develop industry industry heavy bay abundance natural gas oil wells corners natural gas discovered site oil discovered year home industrial plants shore including contribute local economies despite restrictions bay prevent production fish site harvesting major industry prominent 1920s led nation shrimp production leading construction quick freezing plant today allowed south port causeway north classification nursery location production allowed south point comfort restricted eastern northern coast approved remaining locations including shore small tourism industry economic growth spurred port state fishing pier found alongside port causeway pier served causeway bay replaced 1960s converted fishing pier feet billed longest world
Lavaca Bay