The Mediterranean City 2012

LA River Watershed: 870 Square Miles

51 Miles Total: The First 32 Miles in the City of LA

The LA River begins in Canoga Park, flows through the San Fernando Valley, along the cities of Burbank and Glendale, along Griffith Park and Elysian Park, through Downtown LA and then through the cities of:

Canoga Park

San Fernando Valley

City of Los Angeles

Downtown LA

Vernon Commerce Maywood Bell Bell Gardens South Gate Lynwood Compton Paramount Carson Long Beach

Pacific Ocean

Long Beach

The LA River flows through the nations 2nd largest urban region, into 2 of the worlds busiest ports, and into the worlds largest water body.

River History: Flooding & Channelization

Floods in early-mid 1900s resulted in deaths and property damage (>$1 billion) River subsequently channelized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Beginning of the LA River in Canoga Park

The Sepulveda Basin

Sepulveda Basin
Existing Channel Section

Studio City

Facing westward (toward Griffith Park) where the Verdugo Wash joins the River

Some of Todays Challenges:

Every time it rains, the fresh water collects contaminants from the many paved surfaces upstream of the River and the River funnels these to the Pacific Ocean. This process means the regions groundwater aquifers are not being replenished and both near- and distant-coastal environments are harmed. Large amounts of power are needed to bring imported water to Los Angeles. The River has divided human communities and wildlife habitats.

Downtown LA

Long-Term Vision for Surrounding Area

LA River Revitalization Master Plan Chinatown-Cornfields Opportunity Area: Before

Long-Term Vision for Surrounding Area

LA River Revitalization Master Plan Chinatown-Cornfields Opportunity Area: After

Long-Term Vision for Surrounding Area

LA River Revitalization Master Plan Taylor Yard Opportunity Area: Before

Long-Term Vision for Surrounding Area

LA River Revitalization Master Plan Taylor Yard Opportunity Area: After

River-Related Progress
LA River Improvement Overlay (LA-RIO)

Urban design, watershed, and mobility guidelines to create a riverfront district along the entire length of the River

Cornfields-Arroyo Seco Specific Plan

Comprehensive, sustainable land use changes through one of the nations first Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design Neighborhood Development (LEEDND) pilot projects

Green Streets Committee

Cross-departmental effort to investigate new street standards that will capture, treat, and infiltrate urban runoff

River Management:
A 3-Tiered Governance Structure GOVERNMENTAL: River Cooperation negotiations underway with County of LA River MOU passed by City Council in 2008 and by County Board of Supervisors in 2009 River Master Use/Master Maintenance Agreement discussions in process ENTREPRENEURIAL: River Revitalization Corporation City Council approved founding documents in February 2009 and Corporation was created and has hired its first Executive Director PHILANTHROPIC: River Foundation development underway Stakeholder focus groups held in 2008 Founding documents drafted; Foundation to be established in the near future
RIVER COOPERATION Cooperative agreements between City & County for the River Right-of-Way with USACE participation

RIVER REVITALIZATION CORPORATION Nonprofit, nongovernmental organization to implement the Plan through land development & project management

RIVER FOUNDATION A nonprofit organization tasked with raising funds to support ongoing River revitalization

Sister Rivers
3 Sister Rivers:

Cheong Gyecheon River in Seoul, Korea Isar River in Munich, Germany Yarqon River in Tel Aviv, Israel Whos Next?

Before and After: the Cheong Gyecheon River.

THANK YOU.