Lower Los Angeles River Gets a Jump Start

Azusa, Calif. – After two meetings, the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group has made tremendous strides in its master planning effort to revitalize the 21 miles of the Lower Los Angeles River.

“The Working Group includes policy makers and community advocates with substantial experience and a wealth of knowledge representing their cities, nonprofit organizations, and the County of Los Angeles,” said Mark Stanley, Executive Officer of the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, the agency that is coordinating the working group meetings. “In the space of two meetings, we’ve defined this effort as a community-driven, collaborative process that will improve watershed health and pursue equity in addressing the needs of Lower Los Angeles River communities and neighborhoods.”

The Lower Los Angeles River Working Group is a 39-member group that was appointed by California Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird to develop a revitalization plan for the Lower Los Angeles River and its tributaries. Among the topics discussed at its first two meeting were how to engage communities in a meaningful way, addressing the issue of water quality, and identifying funding for projects.

“We look forward to receiving updates from this Working Group as they identify a list of principles, priorities and projects as part of the Revitalization Master Plan,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, who authored AB 530 to establish the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group. The bill also specified funding for this effort, as specified in section 79735 (a) of the water bond.

The group will meet monthly in various cities throughout Southeast Los Angeles and will work towards developing a vision that will update the Los Angeles County LA River Master Plan.