Councilman Launches Kayak, L.A River Boating Program

It was dry, hot and dusty on Monday afternoon when Councilman Ed Reyes stood at the podium beneath the lofty sycamores in Balboa Park.  In other words, it was a perfect day to launch the “Paddle the Los Angeles River” program.

A Long Journey to the River

Reyes was miles away from Council District 1, but the journey that brought local city council representative to the banks above the Los Angeles River in the Sepulveda Dam Basin was even longer.  For almost ten years, Reyes, whose district ends south of the Glendale Narrows, one of the lusher areas of the mostly concrete-lined channel, has been Chair of the Los Angeles River Ad Hoc Committee. 

The councilman, who lived alongside the river in his youth, also spearheaded the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, which calls for the development of an ecologically sensitive, riverfront green space that would deliver the waterway back to the people of Los Angeles, especially the communities along its banks like those in District 1.

“This is one of those moments when get to make Angelenos believers,” he told the crowd, which included fellow Councilmember Tony Cardenas and representatives of various L.A. River organizations. “We’re able to make them believe that we really have a river in their city, that there truly exists a whole ecosystem with birds and wildlife.”

A Brief but Symbolic Paddle

Reyes then got a brief but up close-and-personal view of that ecosystem.  In July, Colonel Mark Toy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the permit for non-motorized boating to the Los Angeles Conservation Corps.  On Monday, Toy oversaw Corps members as they loaded kayaks and canoes into the shaded river under the Balboa Boulevard Bridge. Toy also helped launch Reyes and his daughter Natalie on their brief, but historic paddle along the reed-and-grass-lined waterway.

Education and Environmental Stewardship

The first permitted, recreational boating program in the river’s history is intended to educate participants about the river, help them learn water safety, and become responsible environmental stewards.  Fridays are reserved for youth groups.  On Saturdays and Sundays through September 26^th, a ranger/naturalist will accompany ten people per paid trip with two excursions planned per day.

A Short Inaugural Season Results in Limited Tickets

The program’s late-in-the-season start means that a limited number of tickets will be available to the public.  Boating enthusiasts will pay $50 plus a $3.74 equipment handling fee for the excursion, which at present, traverses a two-and-a-half mile, soft-bottomed stretch of the river between Balboa and Burbank Boulevards in the San Fernando Valley.  However, George Wolfe, Founder and President of L.A. River Expeditions, points out that “the intent is to expand the program to include other wonderful stretches of the L.A. River and make this a regular, natural activity in the city of Los Angeles.“

Reyes Hopes for a New Generation of River Enthusiasts

Reyes, who secured $3 million for the L.A. River Project, which helps communities “reclaim their riverfront lands," also hopes that information gathered in the pilot program will help make boating possible all along the river, including closer to District 1.  Earlier, the Councilman spoke of the City of Los Angeles “taking our river back by transforming it from our back yard to our front yard.”

As he climbed up from the river’s cool, dark depths with Natalie by his side, Reyes added, “Our hope is that Paddle the River will inspire a new generation to rediscover the river.”