Los Angeles River and Regional Watersheds

1
(No Transcript)
2
Los Angeles River and Regional Watersheds
3
Geographic Extent

• Flows 32 miles within the City of Los Angeles

4
Planning for Revitalization

• Eighteen-month planning process
• Looking at these diverse goals

Confluence at Arroyo Seco
Environmental Guidelines Community
Reinvestment Improve Environmental
Quality Improve Public Access to River Improve
Recreation and Open Spaces Enhance Flood
Control Increase Awareness and Pride in the LA
River
5
1868
River History
1871
6
River History
1877
1894
7
River History
1909
2005
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
Building on Past Efforts

• Many have been involved in exploring ways to
  return the splendor of the Los Angeles River to
  the people of Los Angeles
• Community leaders
• Elected officials
• Government agency staff
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
  Corps of Engineers
• Concerned citizens
• Environmental groups
• Recreational groups
• Local visionaries
• All within the context of maintaining flood
  protection and safety

Soft bottom section near Taylor Yard
20
Los Angeles River Projects and Opportunity Sites
21
Managing the Effort

• Lead City Agency Project Management City of
  Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of
  Engineering
• Project Funding Los Angeles Department of Water
  Power
• City Council Oversight Ad Hoc Committee for the
  Los Angeles River
• Consultant Tetra Tech, Inc.
• Civitas / Wenk Associates / Mia Lehrer and
  Associates
• The Robert Group / Adan Ortega / TLUC
• Urban Partners / Asset Strategies
• HNTB

22
Managing the Effort (cont.)

• Monthly Task Force meetings
• Monthly Ad Hoc Committee Meetings
• Monthly meetings with the Corps of Engineers and
  Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
• Monthly meetings with the City Planning
  Department and the Community Redevelopment Agency
• 3 Advisory Committee Meetings
• 3 Peer Review Sessions
• 18 Public Meetings
• 3 Focused Stakeholder Roundtable Discussions

WWW.LARIVER.ORG
23
Community Outreach
24
River Precedents
25
The Wein River Vienna, Austria was channelized in
1899.
26
Denvers Platte River and Cherry Creek have
become green and accessible
27
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
28
BLUE RIVER BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO
29
Cheong Gyecheon River, Seoul Korea
30
FUNCTIONAL DUALITY

• HABITAT AND HUMANITY

Rio Besos, Barcelona
31
Community Workshops 1October 2006
Community Workshops 2January 2006
32
Community Workshops, Series 1 What We Heard
Economic Development has pluses and
minuses Address Homelessness Raise River
Awareness Who is Responsible for the River? Who
will Pay for the River to be Revitalized? Let
Education be a hook for River
Revitalization Incorporate Public Art

• Overall Support for the Master Plan
• Improve Water Quality
• Flood Control Remains a Priority
• Enhance Access to the LA River
• Improve Safety Around the River
• Enhance Wildlife Habitat
• Green the River!
• Connect Communities via the River
• Enhance Recreation Opportunities

33
Community Workshops, Series 2What We Heard

• 1. Green the River

• 2. Treat the Tributaries

3. Create Off-line Habitat
4. Green Streets to Connect to the River
5. Activate Commercial Streets to the River
6. Re-orient Buildings to face the River
7. Consolidate Rail to make the River
Accessible 8. Homelessness and Security need to
be Addressed
34
Series 3 Workshop Feedback

• Birmingham High School March 25th
• No businesses next to river in particular no
  cafes or restaurants. We have enough problems
  with parking as it is. Only light industrial on
  Ventura Blvd.
• Spreading ground should be greener
• More thought should be given to tributaries
• We dont want condos lining the river.
• Should be lots of nesting areas for native birds
• Process looks good opportunity sites have great
  potential!
• Valley has long been lacking cultural landmarks
  River is a major opportunity to infuse some life
  and destinations

35
Series 3 Workshop Feedback (cont.)

• Glassell Park Elementary March 28th

• Create, expand and connect wildlife habitat
• Improve water quality
• Connect open space areas to enable people to walk
  to the river
• Taylor Yard Opportunity Site should be expanded
  to include Fletcher Corridor and connections to
  Silver Lake
• Connect under 5 Freeway at Newell in Elysian
  Valley
• Thank you for seeking our input!

36
Series 3 Workshop Feedback (cont.)

• International Institute of L.A. March 29th

• Consider inflatable dams in East LA
• Work with existing community groups, such as
  LARABA to . transform the river from 1st Street
  to 7th Street into an urban park.
• Good presentation
• Include urban agriculture in the overall design
  plans, as an adjunct to the creation of parks
• Retaining or restricting water flow should
  include the purpose of creating organic community
  gardening.
• Its great that bike path/street access and
  social/gentrification issues are being addressed.
• De-emphasize yuppie condos as community
  redevelopment stick to recreation/open space

37
Basic Assumptions

• Watershed context
• Corps hydrology is the base condition
• Velocities are critical to greening river
• Attenuation is critical to concept
• Regional vs. localized storage

Water quality TMDL compliance Criteria for Prop
O Funds In-channel River Treatment for
Compliance Relative importance of Regional and
local treatment Approach towards
infiltration Safety Accessibility during good
weather Level of accessibility to channel /
water Closure during storm events Lighting and
security
38
Basic Assumptions
Open Space and Connectivity Neighborhood
regional linkages Active rec. vs. passive open
space Local, vs., regional recreation Parking
for sports Equestrian access Wildlife
Habitat Importance of Steelhead Habitat Balance
habitat, o. space, recreation Linkages
Maintenance Modifications of maintenance
protocol Vegetation replacement 20-25 yr
event Maintenance access roads Higher levels of
maintenance reqd Community Development Land
acquisition not a primary strategy Density /
gentrification primary concerns Green building
standards required Existing plans zoning may
change New governance required
39
River Strategies

• River Channel

Parks and Open Space
Community Development
40
Velocities are Staggering
Total Length 31.10 miles 100.0 Greening
Capabilities 0-15 f/s 5.85 miles
18.8 Vegetation Possible 15-19 f/s
6.70 miles 21.5 Special Stabilization
Needed 20-24 f/s 2.95 miles
9.5 Vegetation NOT Possible gt25 f/s 15.57
miles 50.2 Vegetation NOT Possible
41
Increase Channel Capacity
42
Increase Channel Capacity
widen
43
Increase Channel Capacity
add conveyance
44
More Green Requires More Capacity
45
Anchor or Armor Vegetation
10 -19 fps
lt10 fps
46
River Strategies
The Green Terrace
The Green Veil
In-Channel Water Quality Terrace
The River Parkway
Natural Area Restoration
47
River Strategies
Integrate localized solutions
Regional Water Quality Treatment
48
River Strategies
Parks with Recreation Water Quality Features
Local Access
Industrial Reinvestment
Mixed-use Reinvestment
Office Reinvestment
49
Watershed Strategy
Watersheds
50
Watershed Strategy

• Store larger amounts

of flood waters
51
Watershed Strategy

• Store larger amounts

of flood waters

• Improve water quality

of smaller tributaries
52
Watershed Strategy

• Store larger amounts

of flood waters

• Improve water quality

of smaller tributaries

• Improve water quality

of storm sewers
emptying into the river
Adopt concepts that Reinforce the City County
water management strategies
53
Open Space and Parks
Open Space Strategy
54
Open Space Strategy
55
Potential Open Space Network
56
Potential Regional Open Space Network
57
Potential Regional Open Space Network

• Extend Greenways

into Watershed

• Extend to Existing

Parks, Schools, and
Libraries.

• Acquire and create

new Trails, Parks and
Open Space
58
Potential Regional Open Space Network

• Extend Greenways

into Watershed

• Extend to Existing

Parks, Schools, and
Libraries.

• Acquire and create

new Trails, Parks and
Open Space

• Connect to create

Open Space Network
59
River Districts

• River Greenway
• River Restoration
• River Parkway
• River Renaissance

60
River Corridor Greenway

• Continuous Greenway

61
Local Access Points

• River Corridor Greenway
• Entries and Pocket Parks

62
Regional Open Space Network

• River Corridor Greenway
• Entries and Pocket Parks
• Regional Connectivity
• Elysian Park-Griffith Park
• LA River-Elysian Park
• Griffith Park-Verdugo Mountains

63
River RestorationSepulveda Basin
Regional Water Quality Treatment
Natural Area Enhancement
Enhanced Recreation
64
River ParkwayVentura Freeway to the Glendale
Freeway
Enhanced Landscape Open Space
Pedestrian Connectivity
65
River ParkwayVentura Freeway to the Glendale
Freeway
Modify Infrastructure for Connectivity
River-edge Drive
66
River RenaissanceGlendale Freeway to Washington
Boulevard
Consolidate Infrastructure
Expand River Channel
Enhance Pedestrian Connectivity
Expand Enhance Landscape and Open Space
67
River RenaissanceGlendale Freeway to Washington
Boulevard
Create a Pond or a Lake
Expand River Channel
68
River RenaissanceGlendale Freeway to Washington
Boulevard
Create Public and Civic Spaces
Consolidate Infrastructure
Infill with Mixed-Use Development
69
River Districts
River Parkway Ventura Freeway to the Glendale
Freeway
River Greenway Baseline Condition
River Restoration Sepulveda Basin
River Renaissance Glendale Freeway to Washington
Boulevard
70
Areas of Opportunity
71
Site Selection Criteria
Five sites to be selected for detailed design
All 20 sites to be included in Master Plan
Selected sites should demonstrate a range of
issues and opportunities
Selected sites should demonstrate ideas for all
three River Districts
72
Site Selection Criteria
Clean Water, Flood Safety 1. Improve Water
Quality 2. Recharge Groundwater 3. Retain /
Enhance Flood Protection 4. Attenuate Flows
Green the City 1. Create, Expand and Connect
Wildlife Habitat 2. Create, Expand and Connect
Park, Recreation and Open Space Areas 3.
Improve River Aesthetics and Visibility
Build Community 1. Create Economic Reinvestment
Opportunities 2. Create Multiple Community
Benefits
73
Opportunity SitesPreferred sites for discussion
Canoga Park High School Sepulveda Basin Spreading
Grounds Verdugo/North Atwater Taylor Yards Arroy
Seco Confluence Cornfields Mission Road
Yards Downtown Industrial
74
Los Angeles River ConfluenceOpportunity Area 1
"Top 9
Sherman Way
Canoga Ave.
Topanga Blvd.
Bell Creek
Confluence
Open Space
Regional Water Quality
Mixed-Use
Vanowen St.
Arroyo Calabasas
Education
Industrial
75
Reseda BoulevardOpportunity Area 2
Vanowen St.
Aliso Canyon Wash
Confluence
Open Space
Regional Water Quality
Mixed-Use
Victory Blvd.
Reseda Blvd.
Lindley Ave.
Education
Commercial
76
Sepulveda BasinOpportunity Area 3 and 4
"Top 9
Victory Blvd
Open Space
Regional Water Quality
White Oak Ave.
Recreation
Ventura Freeway
Balboa Blvd.
Education
I-405
Habitat Creation
77
Studio City Golf CourseOpportunity Area 5
Open Space
Whitsett Ave.
Valley Spring Lane
Recreation
Studio City Golf Course
White Oak Ave.
Ventura Blvd
Mixed-Use
Coldwater Canyon Blvd.
Commercial
78
Tujunga Wash ConfluenceOpportunity Area 6
Moorpark St.
Tujunga Wash
Confluence
Colfax Ave.
CBS Studio
White Oak Ave.
Ventura Blvd
Regional Water Quality
Laurel Canyon
Educational
79
Ventura BoulevardOpportunity Area 7
Open Space
Tujunga Ave.
Vineland Ave.
Ventura Blvd
Recreation
Mixed-Use
Commercial
80
Weddington ParkOpportunity Area 8
Lankershim Blvd.
Confluence
Vineland Ave.
Open Space
Weddington Park
Regional Water Quality
Recreation
Hollywood Freeway
Education
81
Spreading GroundsOpportunity Area 9
"Top 9
Regional Water Quality
Ventura Freeway
Spreading Grounds
Education
Forest Lawn Dr.
Griffith Park
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Open Space
Recreation
82
Ferraro FieldsOpportunity Area 10
Regional Water Quality
Verdugo Wash
Ferarro Fields
Education
Ventura Freeway
Griffith Park
Open Space
San Fernando Road
Recreation
83
Verdugo Wash Recycling AreaOpportunity Area 11
"Top 9
Ventura Freeway
Confluence
Mixed-Use
San Fernando Road
Regional Water Quality
Industrial
Golden State Freeway
Griffith Park
Colorado St.
Education
Office
84
Taylor YardsOpportunity Area 12
"Top 9
Regional Water Quality
Open Space
San Fernando Rd.
Education
Glendale Freeway
Recreation
Golden State Freeway
Mixed-Use
85
ConfluenceOpportunity Area 13
"Top 9
Figueroa St.
Golden State Freeway
Pasadena Freeway
Confluence
Elysian Park
Regional Water Quality
Educational
86
CornfieldsOpportunity Area 14
"Top 9
Housing
Regional Water Quality
Pasadena Freeway
Mixed-Use
Education
Golden State Freeway
Cornfields
Spring St.
Main St.
Office
Open Space
Adaptive Re-Use
Recreation
87
Mission Road Rail YardsOpportunity Area 15
"Top 9
Confluence
Main St.
Housing
Regional Water Quality
Golden Sate Freeway
Mixed-Use
Education
Mission Rd.
San Bernardino Freeway
Consolidate Rail
Open Space
88
Boyle Heights ConnectorOpportunity Area 16
San Bernardino Freeway
Open Space
Santa Ana Freeway
Recreation
Golden State Freeway
Cesar E. Chavez Ave.
E 1st St.
Consolidate Rail
89
Downtown Rail YardsOpportunity Area 17
E 1st St.
Open Space
Office
Alameda St.
E 4th St.
Consolidate Rail
E 6th St.
Mixed-Use
90
Downtown IndustrialOpportunity Area 18
"Top 9
Open Space
E 1st St.
Industrial
Golden State Freeway
Recreation
E 4th St.
Office
E 6th St.
Housing
E 7th St.
Consolidate Rail
Mixed-Use
91
Sante Fe WarehouseOpportunity Area 19
E 7th St.
Mixed-Use
Alameda St.
Santa Fe Ave.
E 4th St.
Industrial
Santa Monica Freeway
Adaptive Re-Use
92
SearsOpportunity Area 20
Santa Monica Freeway
Open Space
Soto St.
Industrial
Olympic Blvd.
Santa Fe Ave.
Housing
Office
Washington Blvd.
Mixed-Use