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 (Left to right) Colonel Thomas H. Magness, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Councilman Ed Reyes and Mayor Anthony R. Villaraigosa discuss the LA River Ecosystem Restoration Study and future plans for revitalization of the LA River.
The tour, co-hosted by Roybal-Allard’s office, the city of L.A. and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, provided an opportunity for staff members to view and discuss future plans for 32 miles of river restoration. The plans include parks, pedestrian walkways and bridges among the many projects in discussion.
“Today’s tour gave us all a bird’s-eye view of the great plans and opportunities underway to restore the L.A. River,” said Roybal-Allard. “I look forward to continuing to work with all our stakeholders to make the dream of a renewed and revitalized Los Angeles River a reality.”
 The LA River Revitalization project provides opportunities to combine effective flood damage reduction, habitat restoration and recreation in an urban area.
“I am extremely happy where we are in the process,” Magness said. “We don’t have all the answers right now, but we’re positioned to engineer solutions to the challenges posed by river revitalization.”
The Corps is conducting the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Study. The project is designed to restore a more natural riparian habitat where appropriate. The study is focused on improving water quality and enhancing recreational benefits while maintaining the channel’s flood damage reduction capability. “As we forge ahead in this project, we - the Corps, the city and the county - want to assure the public that nothing we do will reduce the flood damage reduction capability of the Los Angeles River,” said Magness. “Our goal is to balance flood risk reduction, habitat restoration and recreation. And that’s why we advocate the development of a master plan. The safety of the city, though, has to be our number one priority.” |
