Guadalupe Bay facts for kids
Guadalupe Bay is a narrow body of water in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. It's like a small arm reaching out from the larger San Antonio Bay. This bay is located close to the towns of Seadrift and Long Mott. The Guadalupe River flows into Guadalupe Bay, and this is where the river splits into two main channels before reaching the sea.
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History of Guadalupe Bay
How Guadalupe Bay Got Its Name
Guadalupe Bay gets its name from the Guadalupe River. This river was named by a Spanish explorer named Alonso De León. He named it to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, an important religious figure.
How the Bay Was Formed
Guadalupe Bay was created over a very long time by the Guadalupe River. The river carried dirt and sand, which built up to form a delta that pushed out into San Antonio Bay. This process created the land you see today between Hynes Bay and Guadalupe Bay. The bay as we know it today finished forming about 500 years ago, but it's still slowly changing!
Early People of the Bay
People lived around Guadalupe Bay even before it looked exactly as it does now. The Karankawa Indians lived in this area on and off for about 2,500 years. Scientists have found old tools and other signs that show the Karankawa moved between the bays and the land further inland depending on the season. In the winter, large groups of about 500 people would come to the bay. They would fish, hunt, and gather shellfish.
About 1,500 years ago, the San Antonio River joined the Guadalupe River. This made the water in the bay less salty. Because the water became less salty, there were fewer shellfish for the Karankawa to collect.
Modern Changes to the Bay
In 1967, a big project was finished: the Victoria Barge Canal. This canal runs from Victoria all the way to the Intracoastal Waterway, and it goes right along the edge of Guadalupe Bay. While they were building the canal, workers found very old artifacts and shell piles called middens. Soon after these discoveries, the Guadalupe Bay Archeological Site was created to protect these important historical findings.
Wildlife and Ecosystem
Fish and Other Animals in Guadalupe Bay
Guadalupe Bay is home to many different kinds of fish. You can find popular saltwater fish like Black drum, redfish, sheepshead, and spotted seatrout. In the parts of the bay that are closer to the river and have fresher water, you might catch freshwater fish such as channel catfish, flathead catfish, and gar.
Protecting the Bay's Resources
While Oysters naturally live in Guadalupe Bay, people are not allowed to harvest them. This is because of rules set by the Texas Department of State Health Services to keep the bay healthy. Also, Shrimping is not allowed in Guadalupe Bay. The bay is considered a "nursery bay," which means it's a very important place for young shrimp and other sea creatures to grow safely.
