Atchafalaya River

Mile 148.5 - RBD Donna Island

John Ruskey

20 Apr 2026

148.5 RBD Donna Island

Two miles out to sea beyond Melanie Island is a an archipelago of five or six islands, all of which are created by the dumping of dredged material to the side of the navigation channel. This is a changing landscape, due to ongoing dredging. So the islands you see on Google Earth might be joined by other island. Do not venture out to these islands except in ideal weather. If there is no wind, nor any expected storms, paddlers comfortable with long open water crossings could paddle out to any one of these islands for a spectacular turnaround. If you do so, Donna Island is circled by beaches, with one opening to the northwest, much like an atoll island found elsewhere in the tropics.

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