What actually ran as a natural flowing river has over many
years thought a pun of its now concrete look. The Los Angeles River is in fact
a real river. Though it may appear as a wash way entirely man made there
remains very few sections that are still rock bottom and not concreted in.
Today, modern communities’ only know of the river for its concrete liter and
unique works of graffiti art. However, the river provided one of the most
important resources to early and developing communities of Los Angeles. Water
in southern California cannot be understated. Debate centers on the environmental
concerns of how concreting the river has helped further dry southern California.
Let’s take a brief look at the Los Angeles rivers role in developing the
community.
When Spanish settlers first settled Los Angeles they
referred to the Los Angeles river as the Rio Porciúncula. Over the first decade of settlement, the river
flooded three different times forcing settlers to relocate. Native Tongva Indians
of Los Angeles had grown a custom to traveling around the river’s sporadic patterns.
Literally traveling around the river collecting a myriad of berries, fruits,
and other sustainable resources. As we have discussed in the Zanja post, Los
Angles early settlement relied solely on the river for agriculture and domestic
purposes.
The American relationship with the Los Angeles River only further
caused problems. Over the years the city of Los Angeles maintained the right to
municipal control of the river. A notion set by Spanish authorities and
continued to be fought over through Mexican and American control of the region.
The River continued to cause problems throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Various floods damaging fields and water ways, such as the Zanja. The first
decade of the twentieth century Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began
developing the new Los Angeles water system. Unfortunately over the twentieth century
more and more of the river had been concreted.
Rumors have circulated about projects to bring the natural
river beds back. Among the environmental concerns fears of swift flood water in
the concrete wash way have helped push a campaign to bring the natural river
back. The very few sections of natural river rock bottom are absolutely gorgeous.
Paddle Los Angeles offers an opportunity to kayak through the river. It is a
great way to see how Los Angeles and the San Fernando region is meant resemble.
Just like in any community maintaining the regions’ natural and historical
landscape should be a priority for any civic leaders. Though the Los Angeles
River had long been out grown by the city, a true and natural water source could
very well help maintain the drought concerns of Los Angeles.
