Rivers and Mountains Conservancy

Increase habitat and ecosystem function along the river corridor.

Intact ecosystems perform multiple critical services beyond providing habitat for wildlife and providing public enjoyment. They make air more breathable, water more drinkable, and climate more stable. They help mitigate the negative effects of urban development by filtering and absorbing stormwater,…

Promote public safety along the river.

Community members named safety as the top reason they do not use the LA River. Improving the perception of safety means addressing physical and perceptual factors. Physical factors include having appropriately scaled railings and a path that is clear of…

Promote life safety along the river.

A reimagined river is intended to draw more people to use the river corridor. With increased usage comes a responsibility to provide for the safety of those users through increased awareness, hazard mitigation, and emergency response.

Repurpose single-use spaces, such as power-line easements, rail rights-of-way, or flood infrastructure, to serve multiple functions such as multi-use trails or habitat, and prioritize spaces that are in high and very high park need areas.

With little vacant land and relatively high property values and construction costs, LA County cannot afford to have spaces that serve only a single purpose. Multiple uses of space are necessary to ensure benefits outweigh costs.

Ensure design excellence within and along the river corridor.

Excellence in design enhances function. From the earliest stages of project development, it is important to consider how a project can be beautiful while addressing multiple needs of adjacent communities. Design excellence requires an attention to quality of built structures, the…

Complete the LA River Trail so that there is a continuous route along the entire river, and encourage future routes on both sides where feasible.

As a recreation and transportation route, the LA River Trail serves multiple purposes. However, it has yet to live up to its full potential because it is fragmented. A continuous route along the entire river would serve as a major…

Provide support facilities at a regular cadence along the length of the river, on both sides where feasible.

Basic amenities, such as signage, benches, and water fountains, make casual and experienced users more comfortable. In addition, the climate in LA County makes for many hot days throughout the year that can negatively affect usage. Shade and water can mitigate…

Create 51 miles of connected open space along the river.

The LA River has great potential to serve as the backbone of an open space network across LA County. This 51-mile backbone would be unique within the county, providing park space to underserved adjacent communities, offering a variety of experiences from…