Re-Envisioning the L.A. River Events

Throughout the Fall of 1999 until the Summer of 2001, UEPI coordinated a number of events as part of the Re-Envisioning the L.A. River program. Those events are listed below.

Fall 1999

Clean and Green: Occidental Frosh Go Into the Streets
August 25, 1999

Clean and Green: Occidental Frosh Go Into the Streets As part of the annual frosh orientation activity to introduce students to community service in North East L.A., Oxy students went Into the Streets and Into the River with Clean and Green, a river clean up along the banks of the L.A. River at Fletcher. Melanie Winter, executive director of Friends of the L.A. River gave volunteers an introduction to an important, but much abused resource to L.A. For many out-of-state students and even some Angelenos, this was their first experience up close and personal with the L.A. River.

A Conversation by the River
Thursday, September 9, 1999 3:00 PM
River Center
570 West Ave 26

A Conversation by the River with Lewis MacAdams,
chairperson of the board of directors of Friends of the Los Angeles River and author of The River: Books One and Two

Join this intriguing discussion about the L.A. River - were environmental activism, art, and community engagement converge.

RE-ENVISIONING THE L.A. RIVER: MAKING IT HAPPEN - OPENING SESSION
Friday, October 1, 1999 (7 pm)
Johnson 200, Occidental College

Key-note speakers Felicia Marcus, Regional Administrator of the U.S. EPA Region IX, and Mary Nichols, Secretary of the California Resources Agency, will share their visions of the L.A. River as an ecological, cultural, and physical resource and the opportunities to reclaim this and other urban rivers. Occidental College President Ted Mitchell will welcome and introduce these guests to kick-off the re-envisioning process.

MANAGING THE RIVER: NEW STRATEGIES FOR FLOOD PROTECTION
October 7, 1999
The River Center

Panelists Kathleen Bullard, director of the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens, Eldon Kraft of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Michael Drennan, V.P of the Watershed Council and an engineer at Montgomery-Watson, Ann Riley, a leader in urban river restoration, and Dave Yamahara, representative from the L.A. County Department of Public Works, will explore new concepts in flood protection and river management, with a case study of the soil stabilization program in the Tujunga Wash - approaches that can become part of the re-envisioning process. UCLA Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Keith Stolzenbach will moderate.

Bike Along the Los Angeles River
Sunday, October 17, 1999
The River Center

All participants receive a free beautiful detailed map of the LA River featuring historic, architectural, natural and artistic highlights, and bicycle route information. The tour route is roughly 4 miles, very flat, with optional additional spurs. Some of the route is on bike paths, some on city streets. Riding time should be approximately 1-2 hours.

Bike rentals available for small fee - call for details and to reserve. Tour sites include: LA River/ Arroyo Seco Confluence, Elysian Valley, North East Trees Pocket Parks, the Heron Gate, Van De Kamps Bakery, Taylor Yards, Chinatown Yards, Historic Downtown Bridges, Industrial architecture, and much more!

Event Co-sponsors:
Association for Women in Architecture
Bikes Belong
Friends of the Los Angeles River
LA County Bicycle Coalition
Occidental College
North East Trees
Patagonia

Down by the River
October 17, 1999
Walk The Heron Gate and Atwater Village

Visit the Heron gate and the River through Atwater Village. See the beautiful new welcoming gate and explore the Glendale Narrows in South Atwater.

View pictures by Mike Eberts

A PLACE WE HARDLY KNEW: THE HISTORY OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER
Thursday, October 28, 1999
Occidental College, Lower Herrick Chapel

University of Oklahoma geographer Blake Gumprecht, author of a newly released book on the history of the Los Angeles River, history professor William Deverell of the California Institute of Technology, and environmental historian Jared Orsi will provide the occasion for an evening of historical exploration and revisionist thinking. Professor Robert Gottlieb will moderate the session.

LOS ANGELES RIVER POEMS COMMISSIONED
Wednesday, November 10, 1999
Occidental College, Samuelson Pavilion

As part of Re-Envisioning the Los Angeles River, the year-long series of events promoting community education, ecological and economic revitalization, Occidental College, Friends of the Los Angeles River, the Getty Research Institute and Beyond Baroque, have commissioned seven poems about the Los Angeles River by seven of the best poets in the watershed. Amy Gerstler, Ruben Martinez, Michele Serros, Majid Naficy, Martha Ronk, Michael Datcher and Russell Leong have all agreed to write river poems and read them.

"We wanted to do a poetry reading about the Los Angeles River, but quickly realized how few poems about the river had actually been written; so we decided to commission our own," says Lewis MacAdams, a poet and Chairman of the Board of Friends of the Los Angeles River. The poets were instructed that the poems could be of any length and deal with the river or any of its tributaries. The only rule, according to MacAdams was "get your feet wet."

DOWN BY THE RIVER
November 21, 1999
Walk Chinatown Yards

This month's walk explored the abandoned Cornfields/Bullring/Midway rail yard sites where the community is fighting for a mixed-use, community-friendly River Walk development.

RE-ENVISIONING THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER
Monday, December 6, 1999
Baldwin Park Community Center

Centerpiece for a More Livable San Gabriel Valley

The San Gabriel River is the lifeline of the San Gabriel Valley. Its deep aquifer provides water to more than a million residents and the industry that drives our economy. One only has to drive along the San Gabriel River Freeway to see that the beauty of the underground reservoir is not matched by its surface appearance.

What can be done to turn the river land into a resource to Valley residents as well? The purpose of the "Re-envisioning the San Gabriel River" Conference is to bring together a group of visionaries who can gaze into the future and see the river as an asset to the communities around it.

The timing of this conference couldn't be better. Legislation by Senator Hilda Solis, who represents a substantial constituency along the river, was recently signed into law to create a San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. Next year, this Conservancy will begin its work of promoting open space preservation, habitat restoration, water conservation, and development of facilities to promote recreation and education.

Join Senator Solis and the sponsors of this conference in exploring possibilities for transforming the river. Speakers will discuss concepts for improving the appearance, function and recreation potential for the river. Following the program, the audience will have a chance to contribute their own ideas to the panel.

We look forward to hearing yours!

LUNCH PROVIDED BY IN-N-OUT BURGERS!

Conference Sponsors:
State Senator Hilda Solis
Upper San Gabriel Valley
Municipal Water District
City of Baldwin Park
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers Watershed Council
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
In-N-Out Burger
Occidental College
Three Valleys Municipal
Water District
Sierra Club

Down By the River...
December 19, 1999
Walk Downtown Long Beach

See the new River-adjacent Cesar Chavez Park, the 6th Street tunnel connection to the L.A. River Bikeway, and the new trash boom set up to catch River debris from upstream.

Spring/Summer 2000

Thursday, September 14, 2000:
THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES SPEAK: THE POLITICS OF THE RIVER
Occidental College

The Los Angeles mayoral candidates will be asked to speak about the issues, insights, and re-envisioning process created by the "Re-Envisioning the Los Angeles River" program. The candidates will have the opportunity to articulate their own conceptions of what the River means to the community and to the City, and to discuss the River in relation to the various policy, management, and social and cultural issues associated with it. Occidental College and FoLAR will coordinate the program, in conjunction with the League of Women Voters and the Los Angeles/San Gabriel Watershed Council.

Sunday, September 17, 2000 (4:30 pm):
DOWN BY THE RIVER...WALK-Amble along the Arroyo Seco

Explore the restored stream along this tributary to the Los Angeles River. Meet in the Lower Arroyo Nature Park parking lot (located just east of Arroyo Blvd near Norwood Drive) in Pasadena.

Sunday, August 20, 2000 (4:30 pm):
DOWN BY THE RIVER...WALK-Tour the Taylor Yard

Walk the riverfront along this soon-to-be abandoned railyard - a rare opportunity for extensive river revitalization. Enter Taylor Yard at the main MTA road entrance (southeast off of San Fernando Road - approximately across from Elm Street) and proceed to the River.

February-June, 2000:
COMMUNITY VOICES ABOUT THE RIVER

Community Voices is a series of events highlighting community experiences and establishing a sense of place about the River. Activities include school classes different sites along the River taking walking tours of the River in their respective neighborhoods, and afterwards creating an art or writing project based upon their experience with the River. An exploration of downtown issues, including proposed developments of the Chinatown Yards and Maywood areas, will also be part of this effort to engage community residents.

Sunday, July 16, 2000 (4:30 pm):
DOWN BY THE RIVER...WALK-Look over the Long Beach Estuary

Explore the river where the concrete bottom ends - excellent bird-watching. Meet at the corner of 25th Way (one block south of Willow) and DeForest Avenue in Long Beach.

Sunday, July 9, 2000 (10 am):
BIKE ALONG THE L.A. RIVER
Departs from the L.A. River Center and Gardens, 570 West Ave 26

After the success of the "Re-Envisioning the L.A. River" bike event in October of 1999, North East Trees, FoLAR, and the LA County Bike Coalition have decided to continue the fun with a bike ride along the River every season. These non-strenuous rides are open to bicyclists of all ages and abilities, canceled if raining. The tour will feature docents speaking about various aspects of the river - natural, historical, cultural, etc. For more information, call North East Trees at 323-441-8634.

Sunday, June 18, 2000 (4:30 pm):
DOWN BY THE RIVER...WALK-Meander along the scenic Elysian Valley

Visit this lush soft-bottom stretch, and see North East Trees' beautiful new pocket parks. Meet at Oros Park - Oros Street and the LA River.

Thursday, June 8, 2000 (7 pm):
MAKING THE RIVER PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY PART OF THE RIVER - THE FUTURE OF CHINATOWN YARDS/THE CORNFIELD
At a site TBA in Chinatown

This event will focus on the development of the Chinatown Yards area that borders the River and the role and participation of the community in opportunities for River development and renewal. A presentation by a UCLA Urban Planning Department team of graduate students will present their findings and recommendation. A follow-up discussion will include a panel of developers, community groups and city officials, as well as workshops and focus groups to develop community insights about River development.

View: Cornfield of Dreams: A Resource Guide of Facts, Issues & Principles.

Saturday, May 20, 2000:
RIVER RESTORATION and DOWNSTREAM ISSUES: The Ecology of Riparian Systems in an Urban Setting

Panel Discussion at the Southern California Academy of Sciences 2000 meeting at the University of Southern California Two half-day sessions of the annual meeting of the Southern California Academy of Sciences will be devoted to studies on the L.A. River and the consequences and opportunities for restoration projects. One symposium will explore the possibility of restoring portions of the River's 52-mile descent from the Santa Monica, Santa Susana and San Gabriel Mountains, of which 37 miles is encased in concrete. Another will focus on downstream issues, examining the effect of discharge from the L.A. River into the Pacific Ocean at Long Beach.

Sunday, May 21, 2000 (4:30 pm):
DOWN BY THE RIVER...WALK- Head out to the Headworks Spreading Ground

This riverside DWP area is slated for groundwater recharge and extensive restoration. Meet at the Riverside Bridge at Bette Davis Picnic Area - where Victory, Sonora and Riverside meet in Glendale.

Saturday, May 13, 2000 (10 am - 5 pm):
WATER QUALITY AND THE WATERSHED, WATER QUALITY OF THE L.A. RIVER
Occidental College, Lower Herrick

From urban runoff to sewage treatment plant effluent, rivers transport pollution from our cities to the ocean. This program focuses on water quality, citizen monitoring, and why you should be involved.

The morning session begins with an overview of the water quality of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers, including a description of the monitoring being conducted by Los Angeles County. Next, the Regional Water Quality Control Board will present a new approach to cleaning up our waters, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).

The lunch speaker, Jim Harrington with the CA Department of Fish and Game, will introduce us to bioassessment. Bioassessment is a different approach to evaluating the health of rivers and streams. Instead of looking at the chemical constituents in the water, we look at the aquatic organisms and the aquatic and riparian physical and habitat characteristics with an emphasis on the overall health of the ecosystem.

In the afternoon we will focus on citizen monitoring. A number of groups from the area will tell us about their on-going programs and how you can become involved. For the first time there is recognition by the regulatory agencies of the utility of volunteer monitoring. The TMDL program requires an understanding of the whole watershed system and how it changes from season to season and day to day. Only a volunteer (citizen) monitoring program can provide this level of detail and intimate understanding. The efforts and contribution of a volunteer (citizen) monitoring program to the local communities are immeasurable, and those involved become advocates and watchdogs for the waterway and its watershed.

We will rap up the day with a discussion on trash in our waterways, beaches and ocean and what is being done to address the problem.

Saturday, May 6, 2000 (9 am-noon):
LA GRAN LIMPIEZA
Several sites along the River

Discover (and uncover!) the abundant vegetation & wildlife thriving along the 52 mile river. Friends of the Los Angeles River & more than a thousand-citizen naturalists roll up their sleeves to clean trash and debris from the L.A. River at the 11th annual La Gran Limpieza. Locations include: Sepulveda Basin, Tujunga Wash, Griffith Park, Los Feliz, Elysian Valley, Compton Creek & Long Beach. Please bring gloves and wear hats & sturdy shoes. For location maps & more info, go to www.FoLAR.org.

Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30, 2000 (9 am-dusk):
CONTEMPORARY RE-ENVISIONING ALONG THE RIVER

Los Angeles artists will celebrate their visions of the River by installing temporary, site specific art works along the south bank of the River between Fletcher (Rattlesnake Park) and Riverside (Zanja Madre). Artists will transform the banks, the river bed and even the river itself, exploring the environmental, historical, symbolic and mythological connotations of our urban river. Artist Kim Abeles will curate. Organized by the Arroyo Arts Collective. Call for information 323-850-8566.

Sunday, April 16, 2000 (4:30 pm):
DOWN BY THE RIVER...WALK-Explore the River through Los Feliz

See the beautiful gate, picnic area, river cat paintings, and hear about the upcoming bicycle bridge. Meet at the Guardians of the River Gate on Los Feliz Blvd. just east of the LA River.

Thursday, April 13, 2000 (7-9 pm):
THE RIVER AND THE COMMUNITY: ISSUES OF THE GATEWAY CITIES
Girl's Club House, 4940 Southern Ave, South Gate Park

The formation of the new urban conservancy, the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers Conservancy, creates possibilities for innovative land use revitalization projects in the Southeast communities along the pathway of the Los Angeles River. This community forum, co-sponsored by the City of South Gate, and including the board members of the new Conservancy, will involve a series of short presentations and open mike discussions exploring River and land use issues as they relate to the Gateway cities. Topics include: brownfield sites along the River; opportunities associated with sites adjacent to the River (such as the Public Works yards); how to address the site at the confluence of the Rio Hondo and the L.A. Rivers; getting beyond earlier debates over flood protection versus restoration; and the debates over open space in a densely populated urban area.

Thursday, April 13, 2000 (6-6:45 pm):
BIKING ALONG THE L.A. RIVER: THE SOUTH GATE CONNECTION
Southern Avenue-- South Gate, by the L.A. River

The City of South Gate is in the process of constructing a key segment of the L.A. River bikeway. Come see the site and learn about progress for completing the goal of a bikeway along the entire span of the L.A. River. This 45-minute tour and discussion, led by South Gate Mayor Hector de la Torre, will segue into the next event in the program, which will take place three blocks from the L.A. River bikeway site.

Monday, April 10, 2000 (9:45 am-11 am):
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION- THE COLLEGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Local Involvement: The L.A. River Project
Occidental College, Thorne Hall

A multimedia presentation highlighting the community and multidisciplinary activities of the "Re-Envisioning" series will be incorporated into the 113th Founders' Day celebration at Occidental. In addition, this day will have special meaning as Theodore Mitchell is inaugurated as the twelfth President of Occidental College.

Sunday, April 9, 2000 (10 am):
BIKE ALONG THE L.A. RIVER
Departs from the L.A. River Center and Gardens, 570 West Ave 26

Thursday, April 6, 2000 (7:30 pm):
HOLLYWOOD LOOKS AT THE RIVER
CBS Studio Center, 4024 Radford Ave, Studio City

An edited video film montage of images of the L.A. River in Hollywood films during the past 70 years will be produced and screened as an introduction to this program. A panel discussion will follow, including representatives from some of the studios that currently border the River. The discussion will focus on how Hollywood has represented the River, based on the use of the River as background in such films as Grease, Repo Man, and the 1950s science fiction classic Them, as well as in films from 1910-1938, when the River served as a back lot in its pre-channelization years.

Monday, April 3 - Wednesday, May 3, 2000:
Opening event Saturday, April 8 (Free reception 5-8 pm, concert from 8-10 pm-$8 admission)
WATER MARKS: ART INSPIRED BY THE L.A. RIVER
The Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, 2225 Colorado Blvd.

A surprising number of LA based artists have used the River as their subject matter. This exhibit will present works that depict, imply, or relate to the River.

April 2000:
OXY LOOKS AT THE RIVER
Exhibit in Samuelson Pavilion, Occidental College

Occidental College students have been involved in the Re-Envisioning process by examining the River through many disciplines. This exhibit on the Occidental campus will highlight a wide variety of materials inspired by the L.A. River and developed by Oxy students. Possible exhibits include printmaking, photography, and video projects.

Saturday, March 25, 2000 (9am-1pm):
RESTORING THE ARROYO STREAM
La Casita Del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena

The Arroyo Seco Foundation presents a workshop to evaluate the success of the Lower Arroyo Stream Restoration project, a partnership between the City of Pasadena, Browning Ferris Industries, and the Arroyo Seco Foundation. Learn about the impact on habitat and wildlife in the one-mile stretch of the Arroyo Seco from the Colorado St. Bridge to the La Loma Bridge. A guided walk of the area will conclude the workshop.

Sunday, March 19, 2000 (4:30 pm):
DOWN BY THE RIVER...WALK - South East Cities
Meet at Fostoria St. And River Rd. in Cudahy

Visit the South East Cities and the confluence with the Rio Hondo in Southgate. Explore this often overlooked stretch of the River, where the Trust for Public Land is working with the community to create new River-adjacent park space. Meet at Fostoria St and River Road in Cudahy.

Wednesday, March 8, 2000 (7 pm):
CREATING AN URBAN WATERSHED IN LOS ANGELES
Occidental College, Lower Herrick Interfaith Center

Andy Lipkis, founder and president of TreePeople, will present his organization's efforts to promote sustainable living in Los Angeles and the creation of an urban forest watershed to diminish the environmental impact of daily life in Los Angeles.

Saturday, March 4 - Friday, April 7, 2000:
AND YET IT IS A RIVER
At the L.A. River Center and Gardens, 570 West Ave 26

Lush, natural, industrial, and developed, the River and its banks have been captured on film from many angles. This exhibition will bring together materials from several photographers who have viewed the River in different ways, allowing the public to compare, contrast, and understand many visual perspectives and representations of the River along its course.

Saturday, March 4, 2000 (ceremony at 11 am):
GRAND OPENING OF THE L.A. RIVER CENTER AND GARDENS
570 West Ave 26

Celebrate the opening of the Visitor Center and Community Technology and Education Center (CTEC) at the L.A. River Center and Gardens. The re-opened Visitor Center will feature exhibits that educate the public on the history, wildlife, and future development of the River. CTEC is a consortium of the LAUSD East L.A. Skills Center, LA Community College District, Senator Richard Polanco's office and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy working together to bring high-tech training and jobs to the local community.

Friday, March 3 - Thursday, May 18, 2000:
THE EPHEMERAL RIVER: THE LOS ANGELES RIVER IN EPHEMERA LITERATURE
An exhibition in the Mary Norton Clapp Library, Occidental College

The library will display ephemera related to the Los Angeles River, both historical and contemporary. Brochures, handbills, reports, and publicity photos, on display in the main lobby, will show the variety of ways the Los Angeles River has been visioned and re-visioned.

Saturday, February 26, 2000 (activities start at 9 am): CELEBRATE THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER
Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale

As a follow-up to the successful San Gabriel River Conference, held in December, several environmental organizations are collaborating to host a day of activities at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. The event includes 2-hour bus tours (starting at 9 am and 2:30 pm- reservations required), exhibits and booths at 10 am, an organized walk at 11am, and a clean-up at 11am. A program in support of Propositions 12 and 13 will be held at 1:30 pm. For more information or bus tour reservations, please call Sam Pedroza at 626-443-2297.

Sunday, February 20, 2000 (4:30 pm):
DOWN BY THE RIVER...WALK - Ballona Wetlands

Explore the last remaining wetlands in Los Angeles, where the L.A. River sometimes emptied in the past. Meet at McConnell Avenue and Milton Street near Marina Del Rey. Binoculars recommended.