Session: Restoring Riparian Landscapes in Urbanized Watersheds of Southern California

Moderator: Wendy Katagi, CEP, Stillwater Sciences

RIPARIAN SUMMIT 2017UC DAVIS

Session Title: Restoring Riparian Landscapes in Urbanized Watersheds of Southern California

Moderator: Wendy Katagi, CEP, Stillwater Sciences

RIPARIAN SUMMIT 2017UC DAVIS

Riparian Summit 2017

Restoration Actions in the Los Angeles River and Upper Tributaries Through the Looking-Glass

Wendy Katagi

Senior Manager Watershed & Ecosystem Restoration Services

October 19, 2017

STILLWATER SCIENCES

Los Angeles

Riparian Summit

UC Davis

LOS ANGELES RIVER REVITALIZATION

River ActionDEVELOPMENT

Piggyback Yard/LATC

1.4billion dollars = authorized

project of the 11-mile USACE LA River Ecosystem

Restoration Project

Move atAll ScalesSimultaneously

2percent of the globe’s

surface that is covered by Mediterranean-type

ecosystems

1

4

2 3

5

7

8

6

8

Channel Terracing

Taylor Yard

LA State Historic Park(Cornfields)

*The numbers indicate river reaches (1-8).

* Verdugo Wash

Arroyo Seco

Piggyback Yard (LATC)

ARBOR Project (aka “Alternative 20”)

Act Decisively

20+Years the site has beenwanted for a public park

42Acres

~60million dollar purchase price

3.3.17date the City celebrated the close of escrow on G2

Connect Habitat

LA River RestorationBureau of Reclamation

Ed. P Reyes Riverway

North Atwater Park and Creek Restoration

7

Urban Orchard/Bandini Channel LA RiverCity of South Gate – Trust for Public Lands

7

Glenoaks GreenwayBurbank Channel, Verdugo SEA

7

Arroyo Seco Tributary to LA River

7

S O U T H R ESTO R AT I O N A R EA – FA L L 2 0 1 6

Arroyo SecoCurrent Stream Habitat Conditions

• South Restoration Area has generally good aquatic habitat conditions

• Native and non-native riparian vegetation

• Relatively cool summer water temperatures (2016 monitoring by RCDSMM)

S O U T H R ESTO R AT I O N A R EA – FA L L 2 0 1 6

Current Stream Habitat Conditions

• Some evidence of fine sediment deposition

• Multiple barriers to fish movement

N O RT H R ESTO R AT I O N A R EA – FA L L 2 0 1 6

Current Stream Habitat Conditions

• Intact riparian vegetation

• Lack of surface flow

• Substantial fine sediment deposition

N O RT H R ESTO R AT I O N A R EA – FA L L 2 0 1 6

Current Stream Habitat Conditions

• Habitat simplification

• Barriers to fish movement

Photo credit: Pasadena Star-News

L I K E LY L I M I T I N G FAC TO RS

Arroyo Seco Recommendations

• Channelized concrete streambed

• Fish barriers and impediments

• Fine sediment

• Instream flow

R EC O M M E N D E D AC T I O N S

• Restore channelized concrete reaches

• Remove or modify fish barriers

• Watershed-wide sediment management plan

• Fish surveys

• Targeted reintroductions of native fish

USACE proposed restoration reaches

H A H A M O N G N A A N D T H E U P P E R WAT E RS H E D

Looking Upstream…

• Station Fire impacts

• Sediment removal/management

• Brown Mountain Dam

Photo credit: Pasadena Now

H A H A M O N G N A A N D T H E U P P E R WAT E RS H E D

Looking Upstream…

• Current conditions – suitable for native fish?

• Stream habitat surveys

• Fish population surveys

• Identify priority areas for restoration & reintroduction

Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti

Michael Affeldt, LARiverWorks Director

Carol Armstrong, LA Mayor’s Office

Ed Demesa and Dan Sulzer, USACE, LA District

Tim Brick, Arroyo Seco Foundation

Nathan Holste, Bureau of Reclamation

Council for Watershed Health

Special Thanks