www.folar.org

The LA River in downtown Los Angeles circa 1900

Farmland along the LA River near Elysian Park circa 1900

Los Angeles River near Griffith Park, 1938

Channelization

Confluence of Arroyo Calabasas and Bell Creek: the start of the LA River proper, 2004

• 1,500 miles of storm drain pipe running throughout Los Angeles

The L.A. River is steeper than the Mississippi!

When it rains, the amount of water flowing through the Los Angeles River can increase from 100 million gallons to 10 billion gallons.

Water velocities can reach 35 mph and the River can swell to depths of 25 feet.

Prior to 1960, approximately 80% of rainwater percolated into the ground and replenished underground water supplies.

Today, only approximately 8% of rainwater percolates into the ground and like most cities in California, ground water supplies only a small portion (11%) of the water we use in Los Angeles

88% of the water we use today is piped into our homes from other watersheds.

Water Supply

The Glendale Narrows

Los Angeles River in the Los Feliz area (Griffith Park on left)

Southern Stretch

The Los Angeles River downstream of Atlantic Boulevard in the city of Vernon

The Estuary in Long Beach

Los Angeles River Estuary at Willow Street in Long Beach

Storm Drain Run Off

Plastics in the Environment*

• Estimates of plastic in the world’s oceans exceed100 million tons 80% of which comes from our watershed.

• In L.A. we go through 2 billion plastic bags per year with only 5% of those being recycled.

• * From the Algalita Marine Research Institute www.algalita.org

• ** Los Angeles City Council Ad Hoc River Committee http://www.lacity.org/councilcmte/lariver/

What YOU can do to eliminate post consumer plastic waste!

• REDUCE the amount of one-time-use plastic products you consume.

• Take canvas or REUSABLE shopping bags to the grocery store.

• Use stainless steel water bottles that can be REUSED.

• If you buy consumable products try and purchase paper, glass or bio-plastic and RECYCLE them!!!

Why is it important to Reduce, Reuse and

Recycle?

Plastics in the L.A. River

Plastics in the Ocean

17 plastic fragments found in the belly of a rainbow runner caught 1000 miles from land. Kamilo Beach, HI

Black Necked Stilt CormorantEgret

Cinnamon TealAmerican Coot Muscovy Duck

Great Blue Heron

Bufflehead (f) Merganser (m)

Freemont CottonwoodArroyo Willow

Black Walnut

White Alder

Coastal Live Oak

Cattails

Elderberry

Mulefat

California Sycamore

Arrundo Donnax

Chinese Tree of Heaven

Mexican Fan Palm

Castor Bean

Steelhead trout caught below Glendale, 1940

Common Carp

• www.lariver.org• City plan that supports river restoration

and revitalization projects for 32 out of the 52 miles of the L.A. River.

• $3 Million Plan funded by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

• Tetra Tech, Inc. Design Team selected• 18 month planning process with

community input• Final, 20-Year Plan slated to be

released in January, 2007

L.A. River Revitalization Master Plan

Downtown-Cornfields

Toxicity Report Species Matrix

SPECIES TOTALPCBS(PPB) MERCURY(PPB)

bullhead catfish(8) 1.0 up to 2.1 30 Carp (5) 9.4 up to 16.3 10 – 30sunfish (5) 1.0 up to 4.5 20 – 50

tilapia (3) 1.0 (undetectable) 10

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a man-made chemical (banned since 1977) with a very long half life. Historically, they came from dispersed sources such as electrical transformers, hydraulic fluids, paper, and plastic products.

Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal present naturally but could also be released by coal burning power plants and other industrial processes. Once released, mercury ends up in the water where it changes into methylmercury and becomes ingested by aquatic insects and fish.

Thank YOU for Caring about the Los Angeles River!

• We can’t wait to see you at River School Day, Friday, April 30!

Or bring your family out to the Great Los Angeles River CleanUp on Saturday, May 8 at 14 sites along the River!