Birdsfoot Delta

Mile 141.2 - LBD - Garyville & 139.75 LBD - Lions

John Ruskey

20 Apr 2026

141.25 LBD - Garyville & 139.75 LBD - Lions

The Marathon refinery is located between Lions, a community founded by former slaves, and Garyville, a racially mixed community on the upstream side. Refinery operations and multiple accidents contributed to an unhealthy and noxious environment; residents from both towns were relocated to different places in the region. Marathon paid in full for Garyville residents, while Marathon contributed half of the relocation costs for Lions residents, as Lions flanked a large grain elevator on its opposite side. Residents of both towns were relocated wherever lots were available, resulting in the permanent fragmentation of these communities.

More from this section

Venice Gage

Venice Gage The best time to paddle to the Gulf is during low or medium water levels (0-2 on the Venice Gage), which usually occurs in the late summer and fall. This is excellent timing for long-distance paddlers, most of whom begin in Minnesota or Montana in May or June,

Mile 12.5 - -12.5 Southeast Pass Island

-12.5 Southeast Pass Island You can camp on the shell-strewn beaches of South Pass Island, but check tide forecasts, and make sure there aren’t any approaching storms or high winds out of the east or south. You might see coyote tracks along with blue crabs. The pelicans flock

Mile 12.5 - -12.5 Channel Splits

-12.5 Channel Splits The water current slows considerably, and then seems to calm completely as the channel forks around Southeast Pass Island. Paddlers could go either direction here, but the best access to the beaches on the other side of the island would be the left-hand fork. Follow the

Mile 15.0 - -15 North Pass Island Beaches

-15 North Pass Island Beaches The beaches at the end of North Pass Island would make a good place to make your last camp of your expedition (if the weather is good). In inclement weather, approach island from backside. Celebrate your arrival. And then turn back for higher and safer

Mile 12.8 - -12.8 LBD North Pass Island

-12.8 LBD North Pass Island Pass a Loutre opens up to a mile wide and splits off left bank into North Pass. Paddlers will find the best beaches on the ocean side of North Pass Island. Go to Google Mpas to decide best route and preferred beach location. There

Mile 14.2 - -14.2 LBD East Jetty End

-14.2 LBD East Jetty End If it’s a calm day you can paddle right down the full extent of the South Pass over 14 miles from Mile -0- and past the end of the East Jetty one mile from shore. (Note: do not attempt this in high winds