L.A. RIVER LAKEFRONT PROPERTY? $45 MILLION PLAN WOULD DAM MILE-LONG DOWNTOWN STRETCH.Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer A mile-long stretch of the Los Angeles River The Los Angeles River is an intermittent river flowing through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the west end of the San Fernando Valley, 51 miles (82 km) southeast to its mouth in Long Beach. through downtown could be transformed into a seasonal recreational lake for boating under a plan being considered by city leaders. Modeled after a project in Tempe, Ariz., the lake would be created by placing inflatable dams in the concrete flood-control channel. City engineers recently completed a bare-bones study on the benefits and challenges of the estimated $45 million to $50 million lake and are seeking public comments through June 30. Proponents say the lake has the potential to transform not only the image of the river but the quality of life for residents of the adjacent communities. ``Water has a way of healing, rejuvenating and creating a sense of place,'' said Councilman Ed Reyes Ed P. Reyes has served on the Los Angeles City Council since April 2001. A native of Northeast Los Angeles, Councilmember Reyes represents many of the neighborhoods he grew up in including Lincoln Heights and Cypress Park. , who chairs the city's Ad Hoc For this purpose. Meaning "to this" in Latin, it refers to dealing with special situations as they occur rather than functions that are repeated on a regular basis. See ad hoc query and ad hoc mode. River Committee. ``From an ecological point of view and turning around the city's most contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. industrial zone around the river it opens a whole new opportunity.'' But some river advocates loathe the idea, calling it an expensive folly that would end their dream of taking the concrete out of the channel and returning it to a natural river. ``The river used to be something of a willow forest in this area and supported songbirds that are now on the endangered species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S. list. I'd like to see some habitat restored and see the river as a greenway,'' said Jessica Hall, an environmental designer with Northeast Trees. ``When you create a dam you're really putting $45 million worth of infrastructure into a wholly artificial structure.'' Besides public opinion, the lake has some big challenges. First, railroad lines and utility lines cover the land on both sides of the river through downtown, making public access impossible without bridges, tunnels or moving the lines. Second, the river is used as a flood channel designed to move water as quickly as possible to the ocean. Engineers would have to design a system to immediately drain the lake if, for example, there was an unexpected summer storm when the lake is full. Third, almost all of the water flowing in the river from spring to fall comes from sewage treatment Sewage treatment Unit processes used to separate, modify, remove, and destroy objectionable, hazardous, and pathogenic substances carried by wastewater in solution or suspension in order to render the water fit and safe for intended uses. plants and urban runoff. While the treated water is considered safe for skin contact, that downtown stretch of river has had problems with bacteria, lead, oil, algae algae (ăl`jē) [plural of Lat. alga=seaweed], a large and diverse group of primarily aquatic plantlike organisms. These organisms were previously classified as a primitive subkingdom of the plant kingdom, the thallophytes (plants that , ammonia, scum and odors Odors anosmia Medicine. the absence of the sense of smell; olfactory anesthesia. Also called anosphrasia. — anosmic, adj. halitosis bad breath; an unpleasant odor emanating from the mouth. . Friends of the Los Angeles River founder Lewis MacAdams believes there are some problems to overcome, but he is optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op about the lake and its potential to transform the river communities through downtown. ``Just like people want to live near parks, people want to live near water,'' he said. ``It's important symbolically and people are going to want to live near it.'' Other remain skeptical the city can or should try to overcome those challenges. ``We're trying to encourage people to appreciate the true potential of the revitalized river. This is a Disneyland version of what people think rivers should look like and not a very good one at that,'' said Melanie Winter, director of The River Project. ``In the end you'll be able to get into a boat and float down a concrete canal.'' Kerry Cavanaugh, (818) 713-3746 kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): box, map Box: HOW TO COMMENT Map: EL PUEBLO El Pueblo (The People) was a Spanish daily newspaper, the central organ of the Syndicalist Party during the 1930s. LAKE IDEA Warren Huskey/Staff Artist |
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