L.A. River's Future: Cleaner Water, More Parks, Less Concrete?

More than 200 community activists attended the second report on the future of the Los Angeles River and the San Fernando Valley tributaries in a four-hour meeting Wednesday at the in Studio City.

The politicians and community activists offered a future of the river that envisions more parks along the river, more treatment plants that clean the waters and, eventually, removal of the concrete lining along most of the river.

“You got our attention today,” said state Sen. Fran Pavley, the chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Urban Rivers, who also represents most of the area. “There were multiple suggestions that were very good, and it will take a lot of compromise. You gave us some—no pun intended—concrete suggestions.”

The legislative hearing was also led by state Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, chair of the Committee on Revitalization of the Los Angeles River and the Pacoima Wash. Also on the panel were Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, representing Sherman Oaks and the west San Fernando Valley; and state Sen. Kevin DeLeon, who represents the part of Los Angeles on the southern end of the river.

Los Angeles City Councilmen Paul Krekorian and Ed Reyes spoke, as well as Maria Chong-Castillo from Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s office, San Fernando Mayor Mario Hernandez and many others.

On hand to answer questions were Los Angeles City Engineer Gary Lee Moore and members of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Friends of the Los Angles River, the Natural Resources Defense Council and others.

Krekorian discussed the importance of acquiring the green space now holding the in Studio City. “The development that was planned for the property has halted now because of the economic situation,” Krekorian said. “This is an important area to acquire and the opportunity may never come along again.”

Esther Feldman, of Community Conservation Solutions, said she could foresee the golf club turned into a prime nature park, and that the nearby city garage along Ventura Boulevard in Studio City provides enough spaces for those going to the park.

“We need plants and soil to capture the pollutants in the river,” said Feldman, who has been working for 20 years on the river project. “Approximately 330 million gallons of water flows without treatment down the river. That’s enough to fill four Rose Bowls every day.”

Reyes, who is credited with to the public a lot more, and launching the, said, “I don’t want to sound too corny, but this is a dream come true. It took 10 years to get to this place and it is because of the activists in this room who did it.”

Along the 51 miles of the Los Angeles River, the agencies have identified potential projects along the riverside. Studio City has the most project sites, at 28 locations that include Walter Reed Middle School, Moorpark Park and along Weddington Park. Seven projects are earmarked for the North Hollywood and Toluca Lake area, 19 in Griffith Park, 19 in Encino, 18 in Sherman Oaks, 20 in Reseda, six in Winnetka, 17 in Canoga Park and more down the river.

Lewis MacAdams of the Friends of the Los Angeles River explained the importance of the many difference agencies coordinating the responsibilities and improving the accessibility to the river.

Joey Reynolds of the Natural Resources Defense Council said that “by 2016, no trash should be going down the Los Angeles River.”

Studio City Residents Association President Alan Dymond, who also represents Save L.A. Rover Open Space, said he recalled moving to Studio City from London a few decades ago and being surprised that more people didn’t ride bicycles around the city. He thanked the politicians for working toward adding bike trails and walking parks along the river.

The most applause came from the audience when City Engineer Moore talked about the additional greenways planned along the river and how “eventually the concrete may be taken out.”

See the video above for highlights of the hearing.