Matagorda Bay

From: Ward et al., 1980; Armstrong, 1987
Matagorda Bay is located on the Texas Coast at approximately 28.5 N and 96.5 W and is the third largest Texas estuarine system (1,013.68 square km). The Matagorda Bay system contains a number of defined embayments including East Matagorda Bay, Karankawa Bay, Tres Palacios Bay/Turtle Bay and Lavaca Bay, which also encompasses Chocolate, Keller and Cox Bays (see Moseley, 1973). Oyster Lake and Powderhorn Lake are two smaller bodies of water with connections to Matagorda Bay. Another prominent feature of the system is the Colorado River, the delta of which nearly completely separates East Matagorda Bay from the rest of the system. Matagorda Bay is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the Matagorda Peninsula, and water exchange occurs through 5 principal tidal inlets (south to north): Pass Cavallo, Matagorda Ship Channel, Greens Bayou, the Colorado River Delta Complex and Brown Cedar Cut. Freshwater input to the system comes from a relatively large drainage basin, entering the bay from the Colorado and Lavaca Rivers, and numerous creeks and bayous, including: Tres Palacios Creek, Garcitas Creek, Placedo Creek, Big Boggy Creek, Caney Creek, Coloma Creek, Chocolate Bayou, Keller Creek and E/W Karankawa Creeks.

The bay provides excellent feeding and nursery areas for marine species and represent an important fisheries resource in the region. Commercial fisheries include shrimp, oysters, blue crabs and fin-fish. Recreational and sport fishing is also an important economic resource in the area.