Baffin Bay

From: Tunnell and Judd, 2002
Baffin Bay is located in Texas and projects inland from Laguna Madre forming part of the eastern boundary between Kenedy and Kleberg counties. Baffin Bay is a small embayment located on the western edge of the Upper Laguna Madre and it is often considered a part of this larger system. Alazan Bay lies directly north of Baffin Bay and the system also contains the Laguna Salada and Cayo del Grullo. Baffin Bay has also been called Lago de la Santisima Trinidad and Salt Lagoon (Handbook of Texas Online, 2002). Similar to the Laguna Madre, Baffin Bay receives no riverine input. However, Olmos Creek, San Fernando Creek and Santa Gertrudis Creek provide some freshwater inflow during periods of rainfall.

A distinctive feature of both Baffin and Alazan Bays is the presence of ancient serpulid worm reefs. Calcareous worm tubes form both patch and field reefs in the area and provide hard substrate in a region typically dominated by soft sediments. As a result, these reefs are considered important portions of the natural ecosystem and may significantly contribute to biological productivity (Hardegree, 1997).