Photo by Calvin Abe 1 The Lower Los Angeles River Story This Plan addresses the corridor within one mile of either side of the river from Vernon to Long Beach.

1 TheCOMMUNITY Who is in the Lower Los Angeles River corridor? 80% of business are considered 93% 14.5% “small” of the population of corridor residents self-identify as a race experience food insecurity other than white (2010 U.S. Census) 64.1% of households are considered low income

14 cities lie within the corridor

14.6% unemployment rate 72%

of all businesses are minority owned

There are approximately 33% 2500 of adults living in corridor are obese homeless people living along the river Additional community and corridor data and statistics can be found in Volume 2, Chapter 1.

2 | Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan: Volume 1 People + Place + Projects TheREVITALIZATION AREA Where are we now?

176 Rio Hondo Residents of sites contaminated corridor are more by pollution 19 environmentally disadvantaged Only miles than 90% of Californians 2%

The Lower Los Angeles of the corridor River is 19 miles from is covered by Vernon to Long Beach Allows commerce, shade trees but also divides 710 communities, 8.7 miles impedes access Los Angeles River FWY to the river, and of multi-use trails impairs air quality

Cities within People in the corridor the corridor communities have 5 have bike lanes Compton Creek 1/3 Equestrian crossings Bicyclists must cross the river 0 to connect trail using dangerous bridges like Imperial Hwy for a continuous ride the park space than the current County average Additional community and corridor data and statistics can be found in Volume 2, Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Lower Los Angeles River Story | 3 TheRIVER TODAY

THE LOS ANGELES RIVER IS NOT A TYPICAL RIVER

LEVEE LEVEE

STORM DRAIN OUTFALL STORM DRAIN OUTFALL

LOW-FLOW CHANNEL

4 | Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan: Volume 1 People + Place + Projects Watershed: A watershed is the land area or topographic 834 region that drains into a particular stream, river square miles LA County or lake (17% of LA County)

LA River Watershed

The river has the largest watershed MANY WELL-KNOWN PUBLIC SPACES AND in LA County LANDMARKS COULD FIT WITHIN ITS BANKS.

Photo Source Left, Calvin Abe; Right, lower three images, 2018 Google Earth Chapter 1: The Lower Los Angeles River Story | 5 The RIVER How did we get here?

Men remove rocks and boulders from one bank of the Los Angeles River using their hands and rakes during construction, 1938 Photo: Herman J. Schultheis Collection, Los Angles Public Library

Cudahy Packing Company, part of the industrialization that took place directly adjacent to the river, 1930s Photo: Los Angles Public Library

Many of the A massive Development historic bridges Gaspar de flood cuts boom results are built, while Portola and a new path in homes and levees are built Industrialization father Juan south of the businesses along more increases along Crespi name pueblo to San being built in than a third of the River’s the River Pedro Bay the floodplain the River banks 5,000 B.C.E. – 1700’s 1769 1781 1825 1850 Mid 1800’s 1910 1910 – 1933 1914 1918 Tongva and El Pueblo de Los Angeles City passes Major flood Yangna Indian la Reina de incorporated ordinance causes build villages Los Angeles as a City prohibiting widespread along the River is founded dumping in damage where Olvera the River Street now exists

6 | Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan: Volume 1 People + Place + Projects The RIVER How did we get here?

Miniature physical models of the Los Angeles River and other flood control and channel improvement projects in the area, 1948 Photo: Herald-Examiner Collection, Los Angles Public Library USACE engineers using a physical model as part of the Los Angeles River design effort in 1948 Photo: Herald-Examiner Collection, Los Angles Public Library A car drives carefully through flooding in Downey, 1954 Photo: Herald-Examiner Collection, Los Angles Public Library

Mayor Tom Assembly Bill Massive Bradley County receives 530 (AB 530) flooding establishes open space adopted to occurs, causes first task force assessment district establish the Congress to Most on the River funds to provide Lower Los authorize devastating to look at new River access Angeles River concrete flood on potential River through parks Working channels record occurs improvements and bike trails Group

1921 1934 1935 1938 1941 1989 1990 1992 2007 2015 Flood control Army Corps Sepulveda County of Los The City of construction begins Dam is Angeles River Los Angeles moves the channelization completed Task Force is adopted mouth of the formed and the Los River one mile restoration Angeles River east efforts begin Revitalization Master Plan

Chapter 1: The Lower Los Angeles River Story | 7 The Lower Los Angeles River

Commerce, California

Multi-use path along the river channel

Community Kick off Event in Long Beach

8 | Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan: Volume 1 People + Place + Projects Where do we want to go?

The Lower LA River Revitalization Plan (the Plan) seeks to inspire local advocates and decision- makers and serve as a guide for creating vibrant spaces in the river corridor which are beneficial to all members of the community and the environment. This Plan was created by the community to meet the needs of the community!

Community Economics, Public Realm Water and Environment

Health and Equity Create diverse, vibrant public spaces Conserve and restore natural river and To ensure that a restored Los Angeles along and connected to the Lower watershed functions while managing River promotes health, equity, and brings Los Angeles River resulting in safe, flood risk, enhancing the long-term economic and environmental benefits to inviting, healthy green spaces that ecosystem services provided to sur- all residents and local small businesses support diverse local communities, rounding communities, and mitigating and does not contribute to gentrification allowing equitable access to nature climate changes and environmental and displacement. Revitalization efforts and a variety of recreational, enter- impacts of urbanization on the LLAR, should build the resilience of residents and tainment, multi-modal transportation floodplains, and associated habitats. small businesses against gentrification and and socio-economic opportunities displacement, foster collective community that enhances quality of life and identity and pride and increase economic sustains watershed health. mobility and opportunities for local popu- lations. Restoration must prioritize and promote inclusivity, health and equity, and climate resilience. In short — Lower Los Angeles River revitalization must be a model of equitable redevelopment, one that ensures that healthy community investments in these communities benefits existing families and generations to come.

Chapter 1: The Lower Los Angeles River Story | 9 How do we get there?

The following chapters of the Plan provide details regarding who developed the recommended projects, how they were developed and why. Benefits from the projects will only be realized if:

• Equitable planning approaches are used to select, place and scale projects while maintaining strong connections to the community.

• Projects are selected based on community support which meet the goals established by the Working Group and the community.

• Proposed projects are continued to be assessed and adapted based on community needs.

• Coordination with traditional and nontraditional partners is encouraged to ensure support, funding and maintenance.

• Projects are integrated into existing and future land use, infrastructure, transportation or river revitalization plans.

10 | Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan: Volume 1 People + Place + Projects Dominguez Gap Wetlands

Chapter 1: The Lower Los Angeles River Story | 11