northwestern extension west texas counties supplied gulf_of_mexico fed freshwater estuary bay home diverse ecosystem consisting birds including endangered crane numerous including classified nursery shrimp prohibits production bay historic location human usage settlement dates 18th century beginning historic port 19th century settlements present day towns founded 20th century oil natural gas pumped bay surface contribute local economies history inhabited nomadic indians constructed camps shore years ago people left area approximately years ago replaced bay named groups making hunter occupied mid texas coast thought european sight bay early 16th century evidenced descriptions logs match detail area believed european explore bay named santo domingo saint later changed port officially opened northwestern shore port later served strategically important texas revolution american_civil_war site settlement completely abandoned town founded southwest port wood numerous caused bay hidden reefs concluded use like abandoned southwest mouth town established 1840s site attacked indians times settlement abandoned early 20th century present day city developers aimed attract fruit vegetable plots available advertised nationwide large amounts land purchased raising demand forcing annexation census reported people lived city cities established late 19th century later expanded development eastern shore developments include registered residents resident community west features approximately miles oriented southwest northeast found mainly undeveloped land located parts west south north shores main extensions include stretches north mouth port bay west forms southern boundary live oak peninsula peninsula located eastern shore lined beach homes residences begin west inlet head live oak peninsula confluence opening spanned bay fishing pier served main crossing peninsula found northeastern shore north community mouth marks bay northernmost point shoreline turns southwest past reaching ruins ghost town marked white cliffs point halfway bay southwest past mouth stretches coast mouth shoreline turns southeast point past swan lake mouth port bay bay maximum metres contrast miles south main freshwater sources small rivers deep banks landscape lined hardwood trees increase significant rainfall reach seasonal highs autumn rivers flow free mouths marshes covering square miles stretch forming lakes ecosystem serves nursery shrimp attracts large number abundant collections black drum trout found bay grow large numbers form elongated reefs oriented perpendicular tidal flow estuary reefs provide habitat fish wide variety birds including black duck black brown billed reddish seaside white faced crane dominant species bay interior granted texas parks wildlife purchase acres km2 prime habitat flats mouth prevent development industry oil natural gas wells located onshore offshore oil natural gas fields found bay including west offshore west live oak peninsula pipeline owned burst marsh miles west near gallons oil acre area oil preventing minor environmental disaster limits designation nursery bay
Copano Bay