News Release Manager

LA River ecosystem restoration report available for public review and comment

Published Oct. 2, 2015

LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles, released the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Study final Integrated Feasibility Report for state and agency review Oct. 2. The report is available to the public for review and comment. Included in the report is a final Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report.

The full report can be found online at http://1.usa.gov/1Vqn8ae.

The public comment period will officially run from Oct. 2 to Nov. 2. Comments can be submitted by email to Comments.LARiverStudy@usace.army.mil and by mail to Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CECW-P (IP), 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315-3860.

The report evaluates action alternatives and recommends Alternative 20 as the technically feasible, environmentally acceptable and economically justified plan for restoration. It also addresses comments received during the public review of the draft report published in September 2013. Responses to public comments can be found in Appendix L.

The project proposes restoration measures in and along an 11-mile stretch of the river to reestablish scarce riparian strand, freshwater marsh and aquatic habitat, while maintaining existing levels of flood risk management. Habitat connections will be reestablished at major tributaries within the river's historic floodplain, and to regional habitat zones of the Santa Monica, San Gabriel and Verdugo mountains. The plan will restore approximately 719 acres by widening the river in key areas by terracing and restructuring channel banks to support vegetation, creating side channels and off-channel marsh, daylighting small streams and removing invasive vegetation. Associated recreation features include trails, vista points, educational amenities and pedestrian bridges.

Following state and agency review, Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick will evaluate the study and forward his recommendation to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy for administrative review and transmittal to Congress, expected in early 2016. Congress must authorize the project in a Water Resources Development Act and appropriate funds in order for the Corps and the city to begin construction.


Contact
Lead Planner
213-300-5712
Comments.LARiverStudy@usace.army.mil

Release no. 15-018