An Ecological Los Angeles:

Presentation to Woodbury University Sept 23, 2011

Jessica Hall

Just add water political will.

Excerpts from:

Public Works for Ecological Urbanism

Moving away from cars

Alternative transportation in Bilbao, Spain

Streets and Public

Rights-of-Way for

Public & Alternative

Transit

Complete Streets treat stormwater,

enhance habitat, promote safe

walking & bicycling.

Return treated wastewater to groundwater

Arcata Marsh treatment wetland

Humboldt.edu

CREEKS & Greenways are working infrastructure

Boulder, Colorado

Stream, Wetland, and Waterbody Protection Program

Photo: Biohabitats

Atlanta, Georgia

Greenway Acquisition Project

http://www.cleanwateratlanta.org/greenway/

http://www.laforum.org/images/issue5-chris-2.jpg www.tollesseawalls.com/gallery_riprap1.htm

http://frugalbastard.blogspot.com/2005/02/trip-to-grandmas-

house-24th-january-we.html

Low functioning Higher functioning

CREEKS & Greenways are working infrastructure

Image: Mia Lehrer + Associates

CREEKS & Greenways are working infrastructure

Combine public facilities to create watershed restoration opportunities

Naturalize Flood Control Channels for riparian function

Remove hydraulic constrictions

Daylight culverted streams

Compton Creek Earthen Bottom Enhancement Feasibility Study

Client: Los Angeles + San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council

Mia Lehrer + Associates Restoration Design Group

Image: Mia Lehrer + Associates

Compton Creek Earthen Bottom Enhancement Feasibility Study

Approaches

Compton Creek Earthen Bottom Enhancement Feasibility Study

Compton Creek Earthen Bottom Enhancement Feasibility Study

Compton Creek Earthen Bottom Enhancement Feasibility Study

Rendering: Mia Lehrer + Associates

Combine public facilities to create watershed restoration opportunities

Ballona Greenway Plan, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission/Restoration Design Group

Naturalize Flood Control Channels for riparian function

Naturalize Flood Control Channels for riparian functions, esp. sediment transport

Illustration : Josh Link, Ecotone Studios

Illustration : Josh Link, Ecotone Studios

Naturalize Flood Control Channels for riparian functions, esp. sediment transport

Naturalize Flood Control Channels for riparian functions, esp. sediment transport

Cheonggyecheong River, Seoul, Korea

Removal of freeway to daylight 6 miles of river

Remove hydraulic constrictions

Daylight culverted streams

Willamette River, Portland, Oregon

Removal of the Harbor Drive Expressway

Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal Plan

Utilities relocation

Mixed-use design competition

Planned electrical station relocation

Bonds passed for public improvements

37-acre waterfront park

Remove hydraulic constrictions

Bringing it together

Photo: Natural Channel Design

las virgenes creek Project Design: Questa Engineers

Public Works in action

Photo: Jessica Hall

las virgenes creek Project Design: Questa Engineers

Photo: Jessica Hall

las virgenes creek Project Design: Questa Engineers

Photo: Jessica Hall

las virgenes creek Project Design: Questa Engineers

2007 Photo: Jessica Hall

las virgenes creek Project Design: Questa Engineers

las virgenes creek

2008 Photo: Jessica Hall

Project Design: Questa Engineers

2009 Photo: Jessica Hall

las virgenes creek Project Design: Questa Engineers

Elysian Valley 2006

But it takes Planning to create long term sustainability

Sprawl

Los Angeles River Flood Channel

Imported Water

Toxic Industry

Depleted Groundwater

Imported Agriculture

Paving

Basins

% Impervious

Cover

Seasonal

Recharge

Reclaimed

Recharge

Cistern

Capture

San Fernando Valley <10% 79,569 66,592 -

Hollywood sub-basin 50% 2,875 2,060 2,464

Watersheds

% Impervious

Cover

Seasonal

Recharge

Reclaimed

Recharge

Cistern

Capture

Ballona-excl. Basin 75-100% 11,088 40,656

Compton 35-50% 4,760 4,080

Eastside 35-50% 2,875 2,464

San Fernando Valley-excl.

Basin 35-50% 75,043 64,323

Calculations

Elysian Valley 2050

Concentrated populations

Unpaving

Restored natural processes

Local agriculture