>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: WELL, HERE IT IS, ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL D ON THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE BASICALLY RIGHT OFF OF LOS FELIZ BOULEVARD AND THE 5 FREEWAY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SECTIONS OF THE RIVER.

I'M STANDING HERE WITH LEWIS MacADAMS, WHO 20 YEARS AGO FOUNDED THE FRIENDS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

AND, LOUIS, BACK WHEN YOU FOUNDED THAT ORGANIZATION, IT WAS KIND OF A LONELY JOB, WASN'T IT?

>> WELL, I HAD TO GET USED TO PEOPLE LAUGHING AT ME.

I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY.

I THOUGHT WHEN I STARTED FRIENDS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER, ALL I HAD TO DO WAS CONVINCE PEOPLE IT HAD TO--IT COULD BE NICER.

I DIDN'T REALIZE AT FIRST I HAD TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THERE ACTUALLY WAS A LOS ANGELES RIVER.

Huell: LET'S REVIEW THE HISTORY, BECAUSE WE'VE ALL SEEN THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE FOOTAGE OF THE MAJOR FLOODING THAT WENT ON HERE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

AND THEN IN THE LATE THIRTIES, THE CITY DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY DID WAS BASICALLY TO CONCRETE IT OVER--THE BANKS AND THE BOTTOMS--AND THEN FORGET ABOUT IT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND JUST IGNORE IT COMPLETELY.

>> YEAH, IT WAS A--THE LOS ANGELES RIVER WAS L.A.'s WATER SUPPLY WHEN THE CITY WAS 200,000 PEOPLE.

AND ONCE THE AQUEDUCTS AME IN, THE RIVER JUST BECAME A NUISANCE THAT HAD TO BE CONTAINED AND CONTROLLED.

Huell: IT WAS SEEN AS A PROBLEM.

THE FLOODING WAS A PROBLEM.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

AND THEY--THEN THEY BROUGHT IN 17,000 PEOPLE TO PAVE THE RIVER BY HAND.

EMPTIED THE WELFARE ROLLS DURING THE DEPRESSION.

Huell: THEY PAVED THE RIVER BY HAND.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'D EVER HEARD THAT.

AND THEN DURING THE FORTIES AND THE FIFTIES AND THE SIXTIES AND EVEN INTO THE SEVENTIES, THIS RIVER WAS JUST SEEN AS A DUMPING GROUND, AS AN INCONVENIENCE, AS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE JUST WISHED WOULD GO AWAY.

IT WAS AN EYESORE.

>> YEAH, IT WAS AND--'CAUSE THERE WASN'T REALLY ANY WATER EXCEPT DURING THE RAINY SEASON.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS RECLAIMED SEWAGE WATER, TERTIARY TREATED SEWAGE WATER THAT GOES DOWN THE RIVER.

NOW IT'S 100 MILLION GALLONS A DAY GOING DOWN THE L.A. RIVER.

Huell: WELL, WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING NOW IS THIS BEAUTIFUL SECTION RIGHT HERE.

THIS GOES FOR A COUPLE OF MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF HERE.

>> YEP.

Huell: THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

I'VE BEEN OUT ON THIS PART OF THE RIVER.

YOU WOULD THINK YOU WERE ON A NATURAL RIVER IN THE MIDWEST SOMEWHERE.

>> YEAH, THIS PART OF THE RIVER DOESN'T HAVE PAVEMENT ON THE BOTTOM.

THE WATER TABLE IN THIS PART OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IS SO HIGH THAT THE CORPS COULDN'T PAVE IT HERE, AND WHEN IN THE SEVENTIES THE TILLMAN WATER RECLAMATION PLANT CAME ON LINE, SUDDENLY THERE WAS WATER.

AND THAT'S ALL YOU NEEDED.

JUST ADD WATER AND WILLOW TREES WILL BE SPRINGING UP.

Huell: WELL, LOOK OUT HERE.

WE'VE GOT--WHAT ARE THOSE, MALLARDS OUT THERE?

>> WE'VE GOT MALLARDS OUT THERE, FOR SURE.

WE CAN SEE KILLDEER AND RED-LEGGED STILTS DOWN HERE WADING ALONG.

Huell: IT'S LUSH, IT'S GREEN.

THIS IS AN ATTRACTIVE SECTION OF THE RIVER.

>> THE DUCKS THINK IT'S A RIVER.

Huell: HA!

WELL, IT IS A RIVER.

IT'S COMING BACK.

>> IT'S COMING BACK.

Huell: IT'S COMING BACK IN STARTS AND STOPS AND BITS AND PIECES ALL UP AND DOWN THE RIVER.

THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT ARE COMING BACK MORE QUICKLY THAN OTHERS.

THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS, LOTS OF DIFFERENT--BIG PROBLEMS TO ADDRESS.

>> YEAH, IT'S A--I MEAN, THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT THING TO ADDRESS IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE EVERYTHING FROM THE COUNTY MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT TO THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

EVERYBODY'S GOT A LITTLE AUTHORITY, A LITTLE JURISDICTION, AND PEOPLE ARE JUST BEGINNING TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESTORE THE RIVER.

Huell: BECAUSE THERE IS A BIG MASTER PLAN THAT PLANS TO RECLAIM THIS WHOLE RIVER FROM START TO FINISH.

>> IT'S GOING TO GO BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEN ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS RAISE A COUPLE OF BILLION DOLLARS.

Huell: HA!

WELL, THAT'S EASY!

>> THAT'S EASY COMPARED TO GETTING PEOPLE TO NOTICE THE RIVER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Huell: PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY NOTICING THE RIVER THESE DAYS, AND ONE OF 'EM WHO'S REALLY NOTICING IT IS STANDING RIGHT OVER HERE BY THE PIECE OF PUBLIC ART OVER HERE.

WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THIS, SHELLY?

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS AN IMPROMPTU PIECE OF ARTWORK RIGHT ON THE RIVER.

Huell: IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

SHELLY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER, THE ORGANIZATION THAT LEWIS STARTED OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

COME ON OUT HERE AND LET'S ALL STAND TOGETHER FOR JUST A MINUTE, BECAUSE, LEWIS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY WITH US, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE TRAVELING ALL THE WAY FROM HERE DOWN TO THE END OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER WHEN IT DUMPS OUT INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN IN LONG BEACH.

>> WELL, YOU AND SHELLY ARE GOING TO BE THE TOM SAWYER AND HUCK FINN OF THE L.A. RIVER TODAY.

Huell: WELL, WE'RE SORRY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO JOIN US, BUT YOU PROBABLY HAVE TRAVELED EVERY INCH OF THIS RIVER AND KNOW IT WELL, OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.

>> UH, MY LIFE AND THE RIVER'S LIFE HAVE BEEN VERY ENTWINED.

Huell: WELL, WHAT YOU'RE REALLY HOPING FOR, THOUGH, IS FOR THIS RIVER AND THE LIVES OF ALL OF US WILL BE INTERTWINED, BECAUSE THIS RIVER CUTS RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF WHERE WE ALL LIVE.

>> WELL, THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF FRIENDS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER IS--COMES FROM THE OLD GOSPEL SONG I'LL MEET YOU DOWN BY THE RIVER.

WE WANT THE RIVER TO BE THE GATHERING PLACE FOR NOT JUST THE 2-LEGGEDS, BUT FOR THE 4-LEGGEDS, THE FLYING ONES, AND THE SWIMMING ONES.

Huell: AND, SHELLY, YOU AND I ARE GETTING READY.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER BIG-TIME TODAY.

Huell: WE'RE NOT GONNA HIT THE ROAD.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO HIT THE RIVER AND SEE WHAT LIES IN STORE.

THERE'S WHERE WE'RE HEADING, RIGHT DOWN THE RIVER, ALL THE WAY FROM HERE--HOW MANY MILES IS IT TO LONG BEACH?

>> GOSH, ABOUT 25?

26?

Huell: 25 MILES DOWN TO LONG BEACH.

WE'RE SPENDING THE DAY ON THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

IT'S GONNA BE AN ADVENTURE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD.

WELL, OUR RIVER ADVENTURE BEGINS.

WE ARE NOW IN FROGTOWN, BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN FROGTOWN.

WE'VE COME A COUPLE OF MILES FROM OUR FIRST STOP UP AT LOS FELIZ.

WE'VE HOOKED UP WITH JAMIE, WHO IS A RANGER-- I GUESS YOU'RE A RANGER.

WHAT'S YOUR TITLE, JAMIE?

>> I'M AN INTERPRETIVE NATURALISWITH THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY AND THE MOUNTAINS RECREATION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY.

Huell: THAT'S A LOT OF WORDS, BUT YOU'RE A RANGER TO ME.

YOU LOOK LIKE A RANGER.

>> TODAY, FOR YOU, HUELL, OF COURSE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, WE'RE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK.

IT'S CALLED MARSH PARK.

TELL US WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE, 'CAUSE WE GOT A LITTLE PLAYGROUND DOWN HERE.

WE'VE GOT NATIVE PLANTS HERE.

WE'VE GOT TREES PLANTED.

IT'S GREEN.

FLOWERS BLOOMING.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK.

>> BIRDS ARE CHIRPING AND EVERYTHING.

WELL, ACTUALLY, MARSH PARK IS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO OPEN UP THE L.A. RIVER TO THIS COMMUNITY OF WHAT'S KNOWN AS FROGTOWN.

NOW, WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT MARSH PARK IS THAT MARSH PARK IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO GATHER ALL THE STORM WATER THAT HAS COLLECTED OFF OF THE STREETS OF HERE, OF MARSH STREET.

AND IT COLLECTS THROUGH THIS--WHAT USED TO BE AN OLD PIPE FROM THE CITY, AND IT'S CUT OFF RIGHT UNDERNEATH THAT CONCRETE SLAB, AND IT ALLOWS THE WATER TO FILTER THROUGH AND COLLECT IN THIS BASIN AND ACTUALLY GO THROUGH AN INFILTRATION SYSTEM BEFORE IT REACHES THE L.A. RIVER, TO HELP CLEAN THE WATER BEFORE PUTTING IT BACK INTO THE RIVER AND TAKING IT TO THE OCEAN.

Huell: SO IN THE OLD DAYS, THERE WAS A PIPE-- >> FUEL PIPE.

Huell: RIGHT THERE, WE CAN SEE KIND OF WHERE IT WAS UNDER THE CONCRETE.

>> YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE SOME OF IT HANGING STILL.

Huell: AND YOU CUT IT OFF AND PUT IN THESE ROCKS AND THE WATER NOW, THE STORM-- FROM THE STORM DRAIN, COMES DOWN HERE AND WHAT, IN A STORM, WOULD IT FILL THIS WHOLE AREA UP WITH WATER?

>> IT COLLECTS LIKE A LITTLE POND OR A POOL OF WATER AND IT SLOWLY PERCOLATES ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM THROUGH THE DIRT, SAND, GRAVEL, EVERYTHING THAT NATURE HAS PROVIDED US.

Huell: WOW!

WHAT AN INNOVATIVE IDEA.

>> ISN'T IT?

IT'S A GREAT SYSTEM FOR THE L.A. RIVER.

Huell: NOW, THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF KIDS HERE TODAY, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE KIDS COME AND USE THE PLAYGROUND WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT?

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

AND THEY COME AND THEY USE THE WATER FOUNTAIN.

JUST TO SIT AND HAVE A VIEW.

WATCH THE BIRDS HERE ON THE RIVER.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

Huell: AND HERE IS THE RIVER.

>> YES.

700 FEET, ACTUALLY.

THIS PROVIDES OF A VIEW.

Huell: WOW!

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.

WE'RE LOOKING SOUTH DOWN TOWARD LOS ANGELES IN THIS DIRECTION AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING UP NORTH WHERE WE STARTED IN THIS DIRECTION, AND IS THIS A LITTLE BIKE PATH, A LITTLE RUNNING PATH?

WHAT IS THIS ALONGSIDE THE RIVER HERE?

>> THIS IS A BIKE AND A WALK PATH THAT CONNECTS THE ENTIRE L.A. RIVER FROM VARIOUS PARTS UNDERNEATH THE FREEWAYS, UNDERNEATH STREET OVERPASSES AND JUST TO GIVE THIS ACCESS AND A WALKWAY TO THE COMMUNITY.

Huell: NOW, SHELLY, HOW DOES THIS FIT IN?

HOW DOES THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE PARK FIT IN WITH OTHER PARKS UP AND DOWN THE RIVER?

>> THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

IT'S A PROTOTYPE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WANT.

IT PROVIDES OPEN SPACE.

THERE'S PLACES FOR KIDS TO PLAY.

THERE'S PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO SIT.

IT CLEANS WATER, SO WE WANT RECREATION, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE CLEAN WATER IF YOU WANT TO GET IN THAT RIVER AND SO THIS IS A FIRST STEP.

Huell: AND HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE THERE LIKE THIS ONE PLANNED FOR UP AND DOWN THE LOS ANGELES RIVER?

>> WELL, THERE ARE 239 PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, AND THEY VARY IN SIZE TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SOME ARE SMALLER, AND SOME ARE MUCH BIGGER.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

239-- >> ISN'T THAT FANTASTIC?

>> CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT DAY.

>> IT'S DOABLE.

IT'S ACHIEVABLE.

ONE BY ONE.

IT'S NOT, "OK, WE'RE GONNA--THIS IS IT.

IT'S THE HUGE PROJECT."

IT'S BIT BY BIT AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT HAPPENS.

Huell: HE'S CASTING HIS LINE IN THE L.A. RIVER, AND THAT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE AT HOME WATCHING THIS TALKING.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> CARMELO.

Huell: OK.

IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE FISHING IN THE L.A. RIVER.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

Huell: WHAT ARE YOU CATCHING IN THE L.A. RIVER?

>> THERE'S CARP IN THE RIVER.

THAT'S WHAT MOSTLY, UH--MOST OF THE FISHERMEN DOWN HERE ARE CATCHING.

Huell: CARP.

>> CARP.

Huell: NOW, DO YOU EAT THESE CARP?

>> NO.

IT'S, UH--FOR ME, IT'S JUST STRICTLY RECREATIONAL.

Huell: SO YOU COME DOWN HERE TO PRACTICE YOUR CASTING, TO TRY TO GET IN A LITTLE FISHIN'-- >> EXACTLY.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO FISH.

THERE'S A LOT OF FISH IN THE RIVER THROUGHOUT THE GLENDALE NARROWS SECTION, WE'VE BEEN FINDING.

AND IT'S FISHING.

JUST LIKE ANYWHERE ELSE.

Huell: YEAH, LOOK AT THE BIRDS DOWN HERE, TOO.

>> PLENTY OF WILDLIFE.

PLENTY OF FISH.

Huell: DO YOU GO--DO YOU LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> I LIVE IN ATWATER VILLAGE.

Huell: SO YOU LIVE CLOSE BY.

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: DO YOU GET TO GO OUT IN THE WILD AND GO FISHING VERY MUCH, OR IS THIS-- >> NOT AS MUCH, AND THAT'S WHY THIS PLACE IS SO UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL.

IT'S BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY WHERE YOU COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE 15, 10 MINUTES AWAY FOR MOST PEOPLE.

AND YOU COULD CATCH SOME FISH IN A RUNNING RIVER, WHERE NORMALLY YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

YOU'D HAVE TO GO UP TO THE SIERRAS.

Huell: IT'S JUST CATCH AND RELEASE.

>> CATCH AND RELEASE.

EXACTLY.

Huell: SO, DO YOU--WHEN YOU'RE OUT HERE FISHING, DO YOU SEE ANYBODY ELSE FISHING, OR DO PEOPLE ALL COME OVER TO YOU AND GO, "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING DOWN HERE?"

>> YOU GET A LOT OF THAT.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU GET A LOT OF "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?"

"YOU'RE NOT EATING THESE FISH, ARE YOU?"

Huell: ALL THE QUESTIONS I ASKED.

>> YEAH, BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER ANGLERS THAT DO COME DOWN.

THERE'S SOME FLY FISHERMEN THAT COME DOWN.

THERE'S SOME--THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT DO FISH THE RIVER FOR SUSTENANCE, AND I THINK WITH WHAT FOLAR'S GOING TO BE DOING THIS SUMMER IS A STUDY ON THE WATER QUALITY AND THE FISH TOXICITY LEVELS TO MAKE SURE THAT-- Huell: TO SEE IF YOU CAN EAT 'EM.

>> TO SEE IF YOU CAN EAT 'EM, AND THEN HOPEFULLY, WE COULD EDUCATE SOME PEOPLE ONCE THAT INFORMATION IS FOUND OUT.

Huell: WELL, I GOTTA TELL YA, IT'S SURPRISING TO SEYOU HERE DOING IT.

DO YOU SEE ONE OUT THERE?

>> ONE JUST JUMPED.

YOU SEE THAT RIPPLE?

Huell: YEAH.

>> YEAH, ONE JUST JUMPED RIGHT OUT THERE.

I JUST GOT A BITE.

Huell: SO THERE ARE FISH OUT HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: AND THIS IS--LET ME JUST STAND BACK AND WE'LL WATCH YOU FISH, AND THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SETTING TO COME DOWN AND FISH, RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.

RIGHT HERE IN FROGTOWN.

FISHIN' ON THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

AS OUR RIVER ADVENTURE CONTINUES, WE'RE STILL IN FROGTOWN.

WE'VE COME ABOUT A COUPLE OF MILES.

ACTUALLY, WE'VE DRIVEN ABOUT A COUPLE OF MILES, AND I FEEL A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE WALKED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE RIVER TO GET HERE, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PLACES TO VISIT TODAY, DON'T WE, SHELLY?

>> WE SURE DO.

Huell: THAT'S OUR EXCUSE FOR DRIVING.

>> SURE.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: AND LOOK WHAT WE FOUND RIGHT HERE AT THE END OF THIS STREET, LITERALLY.

IT SAYS "END," AND HERE'S A GUY STANDING HERE WITH A B GRIN ON HIS FACE.

THIS DESERVES A LITTLE BIT OF EXPLANATION.

>> THANK YOU, HUELL.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS?

>> LARRY.

LARRY SMITH.

Huell: OK, AND YOU ARE WITH?

>> NORTH EAST TREES.

Huell: NORTH EAST TREES.

AND YOU'RE HERE TO SHOW US-- WE JUST CAME FROM MARSH PARK.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

THERE'S NOT A NAME, THERE'S NOT A SIGN ON ANY OF THIS, SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE.

>> WELL, WE'RE AT THE END OF MEADOWVALE, AND THIS IS CALLED DUCK PARK, AND THIS IS A TYPICAL STREET-END PROJECT, WHERE WE ACTUALLY PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE NEIGHBORS AND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING ALONG THE RIVER, WALKING OR BIKING, WHO WANT A REST STOP.

IT'S ALSO A GREAT PLACE TO LOOK AT DUCKS AND IT WAS-- Huell: SO, THAT'S HOW IT, LITERALLY, GOT IT'S NAME?

>> THAT'S HOW IT-- Huell: 'CAUSE THERE'S DUCKS HERE?

>> YES.

AND THEY'RE, UH--THEY'RE NOT COOPERAT--THERE'S ACTUALLY A FEW DUCKS DOWN THERE.

Huell: YEAH!

>> AND SOME GEESE.

Huell: SO THESE DUCKS KIND OF HANG OUT HERE ON A PERMANENT OR SEMI-PERMANENT BASIS?

>> YES, THEY DO.

YEAH.

Huell: AND THIS IS LITERALLY--LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS LITERALLY JUST--GIVE US A WAVE, SHELLY.

SHE'S STANDING RIGHT THERE AT THE GATE.

THIS IS LITERALLY JUST A TEENY-- >> IT'S A SMALL PARK.

A LITTLE OASIS OF NATIVE HABITAT, NATIVE PLANTS.

WE HAVE SOME ENCILIA HERE.

WE'VE GOT SOME CALIFORNIA SAGE, SYCAMORES.

SOME, UH, NATIVE GRAPE.

AND SO FORTH.

Huell: NOW, WHAT IS THIS FOR, JUST LITERALLY TO GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO WALK DOWN AND HAVE AN ACCESS POINT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THESE STREETS ALL ALONG ELYSIAN VALLEY AND FROGTOWN, AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE, ACTUALLY, EVERY ONE OF THESE STREETS HAVE THE SAME ACCESS.

Huell: WOW!

AND THIS IS--IS THIS A NEW PARK?

IS THIS-- >> THIS IS THE NEWEST.

THIS IS 2004 WHEN IT WAS OPENED.

UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING THESE KINDS OF PARKS SINCE ABOUT 1995.

Huell: AND HOW IS NORTH EAST TREES INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> WE DO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> OF THESE PARKS, AND WE WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, DO THE OUTREACH TO GET THEM TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE DESIGN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK.

Huell: WELL, I WOULD IMAGINE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS THRILLED TO SEE THESE LITTLE PLACES POP UP IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> YES, THEY ARE.

NOW THEY ARE.

IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT TOUGH.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T--DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT KIND OF RESOURCE WAS REALLY HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAD BASICALLY TURNED ITS BACK ON THE RIVER.

SO NOW WE'RE FACING THE RIVER, WE'RE ENGAGING THE RIVER.

Huell: AND THIS GIVES 'EM AN ACCESS, BECAUSE BEFORE THIS WAS HERE, HOW WOULD SOMEBODY HAVE GOTTEN TO THE RIVER?

WAS THERE A FENCE THERE?

WOULD YOU HAVE HAD TO CLIMB THE FENCE?

>> WELL, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO CLIMB THE FENCE OR CUT A HOLE IN THE FENCE, YOU KNOW?

Huell: REALLY?

>> PEOPLE DID IT.

Huell: THAT WAS IT.

>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FISHING IN THIS RIVER.

THEY'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, COMING DOWN TO THIS RIVER UNOFFICIALLY FOR YEARS.

EVEN WHEN IT WAS FENCED OFF.

NOW-- IT'S UNOFFICIAL, BUT, YEAH.

NOW WE'VE MADE IT OFFICIAL.

Huell: WOW!

THIS IS--YOU KNOW, EVERY LITTLE PLACE WE HAVE STOPPED SO FAR--LOOK DOWN HERE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL RIVER.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SCENE LOOKING DOWN THERE.

>> IT'S A SOFT-BOTTOM AREA.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF NATURAL VEGETATION.

WE HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, NON-NATIVE VEGETATION, BUT ONLY ABOUT 17 YEARS AGO--UP TILL ABOUT 15, 17 YEARS AGO--THIS USED TO GET SCRAPED OUT AND YOU DIDN'T--YOU WOULD NEVER SEE ANY VEGETATION HERE.

Huell: SO THEY PURPOSELY SCRAPED IT OUJUST TO CLEAN ALL THIS VEGETATION OUT.

>> YES, THEY DID.

AND THE IDEA WAS THEY THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD IMPEDE THE FLOW AND THE FLOOD CAPACITY OF THE RIVER.

IT TURNED OUT IT'S NOT BEEN THE CASE.

Huell: NOW, WHY DID THE DUCKS--OH, LOOK AT THIS ONE FLYING RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S A MALLARD, ISN'T IT?

>> YES.

Huell: WHY DO THE MALLARDS AND THE DUCKS FIND THIS PARTICULAR PLACE?

WE'RE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A--THIS IS A METRO LINK YARD OVER HERE.

>> RAIL STATION.

WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S HABITAT.

THERE'S ACTUALLY FOOD FOR THEM IN THE RIVER AND IN THESE-- IN THE SHRUBBERIES HERE.

THERE'S FISH AND SMALLER CRUSTACEAN-TYPE ANIMALS.

AND THAT'S--THERE'S-- THERE'S FOOD, SO THEY'RE HERE.

Huell: THEY'RE OUT FOR AN AFTERNOON STROLL BY DUCK PARK.

Huell: WE'RE DOING A PROGRAM ON THE RIVER.

DO YOU ALL LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> I LIVE RIGHT ON THIS STREET.

Huell: WELL, HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED YOUR LIVES TO OPEN IT UP LIKE THIS WITH LITTLE PARKS LIKE DUCK PARK AND SOME OF THESE OTHERS?

DO YOU COME DOWN HERE AND USE IT?

>> I DO.

WE WALK HERE ON A DAILY BASIS.

Huell: REALLY?

>> SO DO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

Huell: A LOT OF PEOPLE DO?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THE RIVER.

Huell: AND HOW DO YOU--WHAT DOES IT GIVE YOU WHEN YOU DO THIS?

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF THIS?

>> UNBELIEVABLY, THERE IS A LOT OF FISH IN THIS RIVER.

YOU WOULDN'T THINK SO, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF FISH IN THIS RIVER.

THERE'S A LOT OF CARP, AND THERE'S A FEW BASS.

SO WHEN WE WALK UP AND DOWN THE RIVER, WE SEE THE FISH.

AND OF COURSE YOU SEE THE DUCKS, AND THERE'S HERON, AND THERE'S ANOTHER BIG BIRD LIKE HERON.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF BIRD-WATCHERS, AND PEOPLE LOVE TO WALK UP AND DOWN THE RIVER.

IT'S JUST FANTASTIC.

GREAT EXERCISE.

Huell: YEAH, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT--THE JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN BEING RIGHT IN THE CITY AND YET HAVING AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS.

>> EXACTLY!

LOOK AT IT.

WE ARE--WE CAN SEE--HEAR DODGER STADIUM--DOWN TO DODGER STADIUM, THE DOWNTOWN STADIUM.

AND LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT NATURE.

YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

MOST PEOPLE THINK OF--DOES L.A. HAVE A RIVER?

AND THEN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF L.A. RIVER AS A FLOOD CANAL.

AND THIS RIVER IS NOT CEMENTED ON THE BOTTOM.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A LOT OF GREENERY.

Huell: YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS RIVER.

>> I L--I LOVE THIS RIVER.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

WE'VE LEFT DUCK PARK AND WE'RE STILL IN FROGTOWN.

WE'VE COME JUST A LITTLE WAYS DOWN.

WE WERE HEADING TO THE OTHER PARK, ANOTHER PARK ON THE RIVER, AND WE CAME ACROSS THIS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THAT IS VERY EXCITING.

>> WELL, THIS IS OUR GREEN STREETS.

THIS IS THE FIRST GREEN STREET PROJECT IN LOS ANGELES.

Huell: GREEN STREET.

>> GREEN STREET.

WE'RE CONVERTING THE STREET FROM A PLACE WHERE WATER IS FLOWING OUT UNTREATED TO THE RIVER, WHERE WE'RE STORING IT IN THESE PARKWAYS THAT WE'RE RETROFITTING HERE, AND SO THAT IT CAN BE STORED INTO THE GROUNDWATER AND ACTUALLY FILTERED, TREATED AND THE WATER QUALITY IMPROVED BEFORE IT EVER GOES BACK OUT TO THE RIVER EVENTUALLY.

Huell: THIS IS HUGE.

SO WHAT'S YOUR--LET ME TRY TO PUT THAT IN ENGLISH, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT AS ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED AS YOU.

USUALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND WATER COMES OUT, IT JUST WASHES DOWN THESE CONCRETE DRIVEWAYS AND WASHES DOWN THESE STREETS AND GOES STRAIGHT INTO THE L.A. RIVER.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: AND GOES OUT TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

>> GOES OUT TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND CREATES A VERY BAD ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FISH DOWN THERE.

YES, YES.

Huell: NOW, ON THIS STREET-- AND THIS ISN'T CALLED GREEN STREET.

>> IT'S CALLED OROS, ACTUALLY.

Huell: OROS STREET.

BUT THIS IS YOUR FIRST GREEN STREET, MEANING ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT STREET.

>> YES.

Huell: YOU ARE RECONFIGURING THE DRIVEWAYS AND THE SIDEWALKS SO THAT THE WATER, INSTEAD OF FLOWING OUT INTO THE STREET, IS GOING TO FLOW INTO THESE, UH-- >> LANDSCAPE AREAS.

Huell: LANDSCAPE AREAS.

AND THE WATER WILL PERCOLATE DOWN AND BECOME PART OF THE GROUNDWATER.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

AND IN THE PROCESS, IT WILL BE CLEANED.

SOME OF THE WATER WILL BE TAKEN UP BY THE VEGETATION AND FILTERED IN THAT MANNER.

TRACE METALS AND BACTERIA REMOVED, SO... Huell: HOW DID THE--HOW DID THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET REACT TO THIS?

THIS IS REVOLUTIONARY.

>> WELL, THEY LOVE IT.

THEY ACTUALLY LOVE IT BECAUSE ALONG WITH THIS IS THE BEAUTIFICATION.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING IN NICE TREES.

WE'RE PUTTING IN NICE LANDSCAPE.

AND THE ENTIRE STREET--EVEN THOUGH NOT EVERY HOUSE WILL HAVE ONE IN FRONT--THEY--EVERY HOUSEHOLD, EVERY AREA WILL HAVE IMPROVED LANDSCAPE.

Huell: WASN'T THERE ONE FINISHED UP HERE?

>> YES, THERE'S ONE RIGHT HERE THAT'S ACTUALLY ALREADY IN PLACE, ALTHOUGH THE-- THE VEGETATION'S NOT THERE YET.

Huell: BUT THIS SHOWS THE--WHERE THE GREEN SPACE WILL BE RIGHT HERE, AND THEN RIGHT HERE IS WHERE THE WATER-- >> THIS IS WHERE THE WATER'S COLLECTED FROM THE DRIVEWAY, FROM THE RESIDENTIAL-- Huell: SO IT FLOWS OUT HERE AND GOES INTO HERE INSTEAD OF GOING INTO THE STREET.

>> AND IT COMES DOWN--ACTUALLY, THIS ONE'S GOING TO FLOW DOWN TO THE NEXT--NEXT ONE, BUT-- AND ALSO THE ONE--THE DRIVEWAY UP THERE'S FLOWING INTO THIS ONE.

Huell: WOW!

AND WHO'S FINANCING ALL OF THIS?

WHO'S PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS?

>> WELL, THE STATE WATER RESOURCE CONTROL BOARD FUNDED THIS.

SOME OF THE MONEY CAME FROM E.P.A.

FUNDS.

UH, AND ALSO, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES PROPOSITION "O" FUNDS ARE PAYING FOR A LOT OF THE STORM WATER GARDEN WORK YOU SEE.

Huell: SO, IS THIS A PROTOTYPE?

ARE THERE GOING TO BE OTHER STREETS LIKE THIS ALL UP AND DOWN THE RIVER?

>> OH, YEAH.

YES, IN A FEW WEEKS, THE CITY'S GONNA GET AN AWARD FOR THIS.

BUREAU OF STREET SERVICES HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.

SPECIAL PROJECTS.

THIS ALL--THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS REQUIRE A TREMENDOUS COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FUNDERS, THE LANDLORD-- IN THIS CASE, THE CITY-- THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SOMEONE WHO CAN DESIGN AND BUILD THIS LIKE OURSELVES.

AND SO IT'S QUITE A COLLABORATION TO PULL THIS OFF.

Huell: AND ALL OF THIS HAPPENED--THIS HAS ALL BEEN DISCOVERED BY ME AS WE'RE WALKING DOWN TO THIS PARK RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS OUR NEXT DESTINATION.

>> YES, THIS IS STEELHEAD PARK, AND WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS, ANY WATER THAT DOES NOT GET INTERCEPTED BY THE DRIVEWAYS--OBVIOUSLY, WATER THAT COMES DOWN THE STREET--ENDS UP AT RETROFITTED CATCH BASINS WHERE WATER'S CAPTURED AND DIVERTED INTO THE PARK AND INFILTRATED JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT FOR THESE STORM WATER GARDENS.

SO, IN AN AVERAGE STORM, NO WATER GOES OUT UNTREATED THROUGH THIS CULVERT.

Huell: WE'RE WALKING IN THE GATES OF STEELHEAD PARK, AND THERE'S A LOT OF--THERE'S SOME WORK GOING ON OVER HERE.

>> YES.

WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING THE LANDSCAPE.

THIS AREA, THIS CENTER AREA RIGHT HERE IS WHERE--UNDERNEATH WHICH IS THE INFILTRATION AREA.

THE WATER'S BEING BROUGHT IN HERE, AND IT'S PRETTY DEEP.

IT'S OVER 6 FEET DEEP.

WE JUST HAD OUR ONLY MAJOR STORM OF THE SEASON, AND IT TURNED OUT THAT IT ACTUALLY CAPTURED AND PERFORMED BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT.

Huell: NOW WE'RE RIGHT UP AGAIN IN ONE OF THESE PARK AREAS.

SO THIS KIND OF LOOK GIVES US A LOOK AT LITTLE STEELHEAD PARK RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE NATURAL AREA.

>> YES.

THIS WAS A TYPICALLY VACANT PIECE OF LAND, NEGLECTED PIECE OF LAND.

WE CAME IN, CREATED A LITTLE AMPHITHEATER USING THE BROKEN CONCRETE, RIVER ROCK STONE.

WE USE NATIVE MATERIALS OR LOCAL MATERIALS-- Huell: YEAH.

>> AND THE FENCE WAS DESIGNED BY A LOCAL ARTIST.

STEELHEAD IS SYMBOLIC OF ULTIMATELY THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER SOMEDAY.

>> THERE'S NOT STEELHEAD OUT THERE NOW?

>> NO, BUT MANY OF US DREAM BOUT THE TIME WHEN THIS IS HEALTHY ENOUGH AND THERE'S ENOUGH FLOW, NATURAL FLOW IN HERE WHERE THE STEELHEAD WILL COME UP.

Huell: 'CAUSE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CARP AND STEELHEAD.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY, YES.

NOT STEELHEAD YET.

IT'S A DREAM.

IT'S A DREAM RIGHT NOW.

Huell: AND THIS HAS GOTTA MAKE YOU EXCITED TO SEE THINGS LIKE THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE BRINGING THE STEELHEAD BACK IS AN ATTAINABLE DREAM.

>> YES, RIGHT.

>> SWIMMABLE, FISHABLE, BOATABLE RIVER.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

SAY THAT AGAIN.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT OUGHT TO BE ON A BUMPER STICKER.

>> YOU LIKE THAT?

OH, MY.

SWIMMABLE, FISHABLE, BOATABLE RIVER.

Huell: THAT'S WHAT THE FRIENDS OF THE L.A. RIVER ARE ALL ABOUT.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE-- THE LAST STEELHEAD WAS CAUGHT HERE IN 1940.

THAT'S NOT SO LONG AGO, REALLY.

Huell: SO THEY ACTUALLY CAUGHT STEELHEAD IN THIS RIVER.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: WE HAVE GOT OUR OWN LITTLE ART INSTALLATION HERE ON THE SIDE OF THE L.A. RIVER.

AND THIS HAS GOT A GREAT STORY TO IT.

>> YES, IT DOES.

THIS WAS COMMISSIONED BY NORTH EAST TREES IN ABOUT 2000 AS SOME ARTWORK THAT WENT ALONG WITH WITH INSTALLATION OF SOME OF OUR POCKET PARKS ALONG HERE.

THIS HAPPENS TO BE THE END OF THE SOFT-BOTTOM AREA OF THE RIVER AND THE BEGINNING OF THE HARD-BOTTOM.

AND YOU NOTICE-- Huell: RIGHT HERE.

>> YEAH, RIGHT HERE.

Huell: SO WE'VE GOT THE FOLIAGE AND THE VEGETATION AND THE SOFT-BOTTOM OF THE RIVER RIGHT HERE.

AND THEN RIGHT DOWN HERE, THIS IS WHAT YOU CALLED... >> I CALLED IT GROUND ZERO.

WE CALL IT GROUND ZERO.

>> NOW, WHY DO YOU CALL THIS GROUND ZERO?

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE 2 FREEWAYS, A RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY, AND SEVERAL STREETS FOR THE TRANSMISSION RIGHT OF WAY CROSSING ALL UP THIS RIVER HERE.

IT'S ALL CONCRETE, STEEL, KIND OF GRAY.

AND THE LAST PARK WE HAVE AT THIS POINT IN THIS GLENDALE NARROWS FROGTOWN AREA IS EGRET PARK.

AND AT'S--FROM THAT PARK YOU CAN HAVE A VIEW TO WHAT WAS AND HOPEFULLY A HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

Huell: BOY, LEAVE IT TO SHELLY.

SHELLY HAS AN EAGLE EYE.

SHE HAS FOUND SOMETHING HERE THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE SEEN.

WHAT IS THIS WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE BUBBLING UP OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE L.A. RIVER?

>> THAT'S A SPRING.

AND IT'S OPPORTUNISTIC.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST PLACE WE COULD SEE IT, BECAUSE IT'S A TRANSITION BETWEEN THAT SOFT-BOTTOM AREA THAT WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING ALONG AND THE CONCRETE AREA THAT WE'RE GONNA BE TRAVELING ALONG.

Huell: SO THIS IS A NATURAL SPRING BUBBLING UP OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE L.A. RIVER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE ALL THE WAY DOWN THIS LINE.

THAT'S WHY THE CONCRETE WON'T STAY.

THE WATER'S PERCOLATING UP AND RECLAIMING.

Huell: SO THERE'S SPRINGS ALL UP AND DOWN THIS RIVER.

>> YEAH.

ALL UP AND DOWN THROUGH THESE SOFT-BOTTOM AREAS.

Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT'S KIND OF SAD, THOUGH.

LOOK AT IT.

THAT POOR LITTLE BIT OFUBBLES.

>> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S ALSO KIND OF, UM, HOPEFUL.

Huell: YEAH.

>> BECAUSE, LOOK.

LOOK AT THIS PLACE THAT WE'RE AT, AND STILL WE'VE GOT LIFE COMING UP.

Huell: OK, NOW THE REAL HARD-CORE L.A. RIVER ADVENTURE BEGINS.

UP UNTIL NOW WE HAVE BEEN UP ON THE BANKS OF THE L.A. RIVER.

NOW WE ARE DRIVING DOWN INTO THE L.A. RIVER.

TED, YOU'RE FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

WE'RE IN YOUR VAN RIGHT NOW.

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING US?

>> WELL, WE'RE HEADING RIGHT-- UH--THIS IS CALLED THE ARROYO SECO ENTRANCE POINT.

NOT BECAUSE IT'S--BECAUSE WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO THE ARROYO SECO, WHICH IS ON OUR LEFT-HAND SIDE.

AND-- Huell: OH, LOOK!

OH, NOW, THIS JUST OPENS UP A WHOLE OTHER WORLD DOWN HERE.

WE ARE IN THE RIVER.

AND WE'RE JUST GOING THROUG.. HOW DO WE KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THIS RIVER?

>> WELL, IT USED TO BE BEFORE THAT WHEN WE--THAT YOU COULD, UH, BUT WE ADDED MORE WATER BECAUSE OF THE TILLMAN PLANT.

AND OF--OF THE--UH, THE BURBANK- GLENDALE TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH IS TERTIARY WATER.

I MEAN, THERE'S MORE NUTRIENTS IN THE WATER, AND WHAT THAT DID WAS CREATE--THE LOW FLOW BECAME VERY SLICK.

AND, UH-- Huell: SO THERE'S A LOT OF ALGAE IN THIS RIVER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND MOST OF THE TIME--IN THE BEGINNING WE COULD HAVE JUST RODE ACROSS AT A NICE STEADY PACE, BUT WITH THE ALGAE, IT'S VERY SLICK AND YOU COULD GET TRAPPED.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO BE VERY CONSCIOUS OF WHERE WE CAN GO.

Huell: WE'RE RIGHT ON THE EDGE RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN'T DRIVE THROUGH THE WATER BECAUSE IT'S SO SLIPPERY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE DO NOT--DO NOT LIKE--ONLY MAINTENANCE PEOPLE AND AUTHORIZED PEOPLE ARE DOWN HERE.

Huell: YEAH, WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING THAT WE COULD NORMALLY DO.

WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE'VE HOOKED UP WITH YOU AND THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

>> YES, SIR.

Huell: NOW, THESE BRIDGES ARE ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR THAT WE ARE GOING UNDER, AND IT REALLY GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HISTORY BECAUSE THESE BRIDGES HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> MOST OF BRIDGES WE'RE GONNA SEE, THEY WERE ALL BUILT PRIOR TO THE RIVER BEING CONSTRUCTED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WHEN THE RIVER WAS BUILT, THEY ACTUALLY LOWERED THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER.

AND SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE TOP OF THE-- THE PIERS, THE 2 SORT OF, UH, CURVING PIECES COME AND JOIN?

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> THE RIVERBOTTOM USED TO BE THERE.

WHEN THEY CONSTRUCTED THE L.A. RIVER, THEY HAD TO ACTUALLY EXTEND THE BRIDGE PIERS FARTHER DOWN TO MEET THE NEW BOTTOM.

THEY ACTUALLY DEEPENED THE RIVER BY ABOUT 15, 16 FEET.

Huell: THAT IS SO INTERESTING TO HEAR YOU ALL TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY CONSTRUCTED THE L.A. RIVER.

THEY BUILT THE RIVER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, THIS WAS A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

JUST--SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

Huell: THIS WAS A CORPS OF ENGINEERS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

>> IT STARTED IN 1934--THAT'S WHEN THE--AFTER THE FLOODS-- PRIOR TO THAT THEY HAD THE MONSTROUS STORMS, AND, UH, CONGRESS GOT A BILL TOGETHER TO, UM, BUILD THIS PROJECT IN 1936, I BELIEVE.

IT WAS SIGNED BY CONGRESS AND--AND THEN-- Huell: THAT'S WHEN YOU STARTED POURING THE CONCRETE.

>> OH, WELL, PREPARING THE AREA, THEN POURING THE CONCRETE.

Huell: CAN WE STOP AND GET OUT?

LET'S STOP AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS RIVER UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

I GUESS THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD A PLACE AS ANY, RIGHT HERE BY ALL THIS GRAFFITI.

NOW, HERE ARE THE FACES BEHIND THE VOICES.

YOU ARE FROM... >> GARY WITH L.A. COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.

Huell: L.A. COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.

>> TED MASIGAT.

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

CORPS OF ENGINEERS, L.A. COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.

AND, FELLAS, WE ARE STANDING...NOW, IT'S NOT--IS IT SAFE TO WALK OUT IN HERE OR IS THIS SLIPPERY?

>> AGAIN-- Huell: ALGAE.

>> THIS IS ALGAE.

YOU CAN WALK VERY CAREFULLY, BUT AS I WALK ALONG, I CAN FEEL IT SLIPPING UNDERNEATH ME.

Huell: YEAH.

AND WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS SLIP AND FALL IN HERE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THAT...LOW-FLOW CHANNEL IN THE CENTER IS SEVERAL FEET DEEP.

Huell: NOW, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THE LOW-FLOW CHANNEL?

>> WELL, WHEN THE RIVER WAS CONSTRUCTED, THEY BUILT IT OBVIOUSLY TO HANDLE THE LARGE STORM FLOWS, WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO LARGE.

BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TO HANDLE THE SMALLER FLOWS THAT COME THROUGH HERE, THEY WANTED TO CONFINE IT TO A SMALLER AREA, AGAIN, TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE, LIKE THIS ALGAE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Huell: SO THIS IS JUST THIS LITTLE CHANNEL.

>> IT'S A CENTRAL LITTLE PIECE THAT COMES--IN FACT, MOST OF THE YEAR THIS IS ALL THE WATER YOU SEE HERE IN THE RIVER.

Huell: AND IF YOU--OH, BOY, YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE ALGAE IN HERE.

LOOK AT THIS.

IF YOU WERE TO FALL IN HERE, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT BECAUSE IT'S SO SLIPPERY.

YOU COULDN'T PULL YOURSELF BACK OUT AND YOU'D JUST GO RIGHT DOWN THE RIVER.

>> YOU'D GO RIGHT ON DOWN.

IT'S VERY SLIPPERY.

Huell: BOY, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL HERE, THOUGH.

LOOK OUT HERE.

THIS IS--THIS IS THE BROADWAY BRIDGE DOWN HERE?

>> YES.

Huell: WOW, LOOK THAT OLD BRIDGE DOWN THERE.

NOW, FELLAS, THIS IS INTERESTING.

THIS IS EXCITING.

BUT THIS IS--BOY, I'M ABOUT TO FALL RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS-- THIS IS REALLY ALL WE'RE GONNA SEE ALL THE WAY DOWN, ISN'T IT, FOR MILES AND MILES AND MILES.

WITTHE METRO LINK GOING RIGHT BY HERE, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT A CONCRETE CHANNEL RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. >> YES, SIR.

AND, AGAIN, IT'S NOT VERY DIFFERENT, UH, I MEAN, WE GOT THE SLOPES, THE CHANNEL, AND THE PARAPET WALLS.

ALL THE WAY DOWN, AS YOU SAY, TO LONG BEACH.

Huell: THIS A LOT OF CONCRETE.

>> YES, IT IS.

Huell: AND NOT REALLY VERY ATTRACTIVE.

THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

THIS--IT IS WHAT IT IS, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK TODAY AND THINK, MY GOSH, THEY TOOK THIS NATURAL RIVER WITH ITS HABITAT AND REPLACED IT WITH CONCRETE.

BUT YOU NEED TO SORT OF LOOK BACK 100 YEARS, BACK AT THE FOLKS THAT BUILT IT AND THE CONDITIONS THEY WERE DEALING WITH BACK AT THAT TIME.

YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THE... RIVERS BEING CHANNELED IN THIS FASHION, FLOODING WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN LOS ANGELES.

IN FACT, LOS ANGELES COUNTY HAD ONE OF THE GREATEST FLOOD THREATS OF ANY REGION IN THE COUNTRY BACK AT THAT TIME.

YOU HAD VERY DEVASTATING FLOODS THAT CAME THROUGH HERE, AND THE TYPE OF STREAMS THAT WE HAVE-- AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S VERY LITTLE WATER HERE NOW.

SO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE STREAM PATH ITSELF ON THESE NATURAL STREAMS IS VERY SMALL.

WHEN STORMS OCCUR, YOU HAVE THIS HUGE VOLUME OF WATER THAT WOULD COME DOWN.

IT HAS TO FIND A PATH TO GO THROUGH.

QUITE OFTEN IT HAS TO CREATE ITS OWN PATH.

SO WHAT YOU HAD IS YOU HAD THE RIVERS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING, CHANGING COURSE.

DEVASTATING-- Huell: THAT'S WHY THEY CHANNELIZED THEM LIKE THIS.

>> AND TO DEAL WITH THE GROWING URBANIZATION IN L.A. COUNTY, THEY NEEDED SOME WAY TO KEEP THE RIVER FROM CHANGING COURSE.

Huell: OK, WE'VE STOPPED ON THIS PART OF THE RIVER BECAUSE THERE IS A DISTINCT SMELL IN THE AIR, ISN'T THERE, SHELLY?

>> IT SMELLS LIKE THERE'S BACON SMOKING CLOSE BY.

Huell: AND WHY IS THAT?

>> FARMER JOHN'S PLANT IS RIGHT BEHIND US OVER THERE.

Huell: SO FARMER JOHN'S IS RIGHT OVER HERE.

THIS REALLY POINTS UP THE INDUSTRIAL FIELD OF THE L.A. RIVER, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT SURE DOES.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE GONNA SEE AS WE TRAVEL ON DOWN FROM HERE TOWARDS LONG BEACH, AS YOU TRAVEL THROUGH SORT OF THE HEART OF THE INDUSTRIAL AREA IN A LOT OF THE CITIES WE'RE GOING TO BE TRAVELING THROUGH, A LOT OF INDUSTRY, ON BOTH SIDES.

Huell: THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEVER SEE IN L.A. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S-- Huell: YOU NEVER SEE THIS.

>> YEAH, IT'S SORT OF THE--THE-- BEHIND THE SCENES OR BACKYARD-- Huell: THE BACKYARD.

>> THE BACKDOOR, THE BACKYARD, THE, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF FORGOTTEN LANDSCAPE, REALLY.

Huell: AND WHAT IS THIS OVER HERE?

TALK ABOUT FORGOTTEN LANDSCAPE AND...BACKYARD AND-- WHAT IS ALL THIS?

>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S, UH, BEEN SOME PEOPLE HERE.

WE'VE GOT COUCHES AND SUCH.

BUT IT'S ALSO INDICATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S--THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE AROUND AND SO THIS BECOMES A DUMPING GROUND.

Huell: SO THIS JUST DIDN'T WASH DOWN THE RIVER.

>> IT'S NOT VERY LIKELY.

Huell: DO YOU ALL PATROL THE RIVER?

WHAT DO YOU--HOW DO YOU-- >> WELL, THIS IS A COMBINATION OF THINGS THAT WERE DUMPED AND ALSO MATERIAL THAT'S WASHED DOWN.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS, WITH THESE CHANNELS, IS ALL THE TRASH AND DEBRIS THAT PEOPLE TOSS OUT IN THE STREETS ENDS UP BEING WASHED INTO THE FLOOD CONTROL CHANNELS.

Huell: DO YOU HAVE TRUCKS THAT COME DOWN HERE D CLEAN THIS OUT PERIODICALLY, OR DO YOU JUST WAIT FOR IT TO BE FLUSHED DOWN THE RIVER?

>> OH, WE--WE, UH, PERIODICALLY WE DO.

WE DO HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT DOES GO OUT HERE, HE DOES CLEAN UP THE TRASH AND DOES WEEDS AND STUFF LIKE-- Huell: YEAH, JUST LOOK AT ALL THIS.

THIS IS HEAVY-DUTY STUFF HERE.

>> AND THIS IS VERY COMMON.

THE SHOPPING CARTS.

THE COUCHES.

Huell: COUCHES.

OLD COUCHES.

>> YOU COULD FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH WHAT YOU FIND IN THE RIVER.

Huell: NO, YOU COULD FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH WHAT YOU FIND IN THE RIVER.

>> BUT, UH, NO, THIS IS A-- A SERIOUS ISSUE.

WE DO END UP WITH A LOT OF TRASH AND DEBRIS IN HERE.

AND FREQUENTLY AFTER STORMS WE DO NEED TO COME THROUGH HERE AND CLEAR THIS UP.

Huell: NOW, IF WE WERE WALKING HERE DURING A STORM, THERE WOULD BE WATER HOW HIGH UP OVER US?

>> WELL, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE STORM, YOU COULD HAVE WATER UP TO A FEW FEET FROM THE TOP OF THE BANKS.

Huell: REALLY?

>> IN A VERY LARGE STORM EVENT, YES.

Huell: AND THIS WOULD REALLY BE MOVING WATER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S WHY WE DON'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE IN THE--NEAR THE CHANNELS WHEN IT'S RAINING.

Huell: NOW, WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THESE BIRDS?

Shelly: WELL, THEY'RE OPPORTUNISTIC.

THERE MUST BE FOOD DOWN HERE.

THEY'RE GULLS, AND GULLS ARE SCAVENGERS, SO THAT MEANS THERE MUST BE ALL KINDS OF THINGS DOWN IN HERE FOR THEM TO HEAT.

AND I KNOW THAT THE ALGAE IS ALSO, UM, DRAWS SHORE BIRDS.

Huell: WOW, THIS PART OF THE RIVER IS FULL OF GULL.

>> YEP.

LOTS AND LOTS OF 'EM.

AND WE'LL--THE FURTHER DOWN WE GET THE MORE SHORE BIRDS THAT WE'LL SEE.

THEY'RE-- Huell: WELL, WE'RE HEADING FOR THE OCEAN, RIGHT?

>> WE'RE GETTING DOWN THERE.

THERE ARE ABOUT OVER 200 SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT RELY ON THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

Huell: 200 SPECIES OF BIRDS ON THE RIVER.

>> YEP.

WE HAVE MIGRANTS IN THE SPRING AND FALL AND, UH, A LOT OF THE--THE SHORE BIRDS.

YOU SEE CORMORANTS AND, UH, GREAT BLUE HERONS AND EGRETS AND--AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS AS WE START GETTING DN TO THE OCEAN.

Huell: IS THIS A MOTHER AND HER LITTLE--OH, LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON, OFF TO YOUR RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTHER--LOOK, THERE'S A MOTHER--OH, LET'S STOP AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS.

>> AWW... Huell: IT'S A MOTHER DUCK AND HER LITTLE DUCKS.

>> SEE?

Huell: LIFE ON THE L.A. RIVER.

BOY, SHE'S GOT A BUNCH OF THEM, TOO.

LOOK AT THAT!

BOY, I'M LEARNING A LOT ON THIS TRIP.

I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHERE WE ARE.

WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?

>> WE'RE AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE RIO HONDO RIVER AND THE L.A. RIVER.

Huell: THE RIO HONDO RIVER?

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE RIO HONDO RIVER.

>> WELL, IT IS ANOTHER RIVER THAT IS TRIBUTARY TO THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

THE RIO HONDO RIVER ACTUALLY COLLECTS RUNOFF FROM THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AND BRINGS IT ON IN TO THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

Huell: BUT THAT'S A CONCRETE RIVER, TOO.

>> WELL, AS PART OF THE ENTIRE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, WE HAVE ALMOST 500 MILES OF CONCRETE LINED FLOOD CONTROL CHANNELS OF VARIOUS SIZES.

Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.

IS THIS A FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL, OR IS THIS THE RIO HONDO RIVER?

>> WELL, THIS IS THE RIO HONDO RIVER, AND THE FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL FOLLOWS THE PATH OF THE RIVER.

Huell: WOW, THIS IS SOMETHING TO SEE.

LOOK AT THIS.

THE RIO HONDO RIVER DOWN HERE... AND THEN RIGHT OVER HERE TO YOUR LEFT, THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

AND THEY COME TOGETHER RIGHT HERE.

WE'RE STANDING HERE LOOKING DOWN A BIKE PATH RIGHT HERE BESIDE THE L.A. RIVER.

OF COURSE THERE ARE NO BIKERS ON THE PATH RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THEM SO FAR TODAY.

SURELY ONE WILL COME ALONG IN A MINUTE.

GARY, BUT WE ARE STANDING HERE RIGHT BESIDE THE L.A. RIVER AND RIGHT BESIDE THIS BIKE PATH, IN THE CITY OF... >> SOUTHGATE.

Huell: SOUTHGATE.

AND THIS IS VERY EXCITING, TOO, BECAUSE THIS BIKE PATH RUNS HOW FAR?

>> IT RUNS FOR OVER 20 MILES, FROM THE CITY OF BELL ALL THE WAY TO LONG BEACH AND THE OCEAN.

Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT A 20-MILE BIKE PATH ALREADY IN PLACE ALONG THE L.A. RIVER.

>> WE DO, AND WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT BEING ABLE TO USE THE RIVER FOR RECREATION, THIS IS ONE OF THE EARLIER, UH, EFFORTS THAT WAS DONE HERE WITH THE RIVER IS TO CONSTRUCT A BIKE PATH.

AND NOT ONLY ON THE L.A. RIVER, BUT MANY OF OUR OTHER LARGER CHANNELS, WE HAVE BIKE PATHS THAT PARALLEL THE RIVER AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO TRAVEL AND RECREATE ALONG THE RIVER.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS?

>> VICTOR.

Huell: WELL, TELL US ABOUT USING THIS BIKE PATH.

HOW FAR DO YOU RIDE ON THIS THING EVERY DAY?

>> OH, I RIDE THE WHOLE WAY UP DOWN TO THE END OF LONG BEACH.

Huell: REALLY?

>> YES.

Huell: THAT'S LIKE 10, 15 MILES, RIGHT?

>> ABOUT...NO, IT'D BE LIKE 20.

Huell: 20 MILES!

>> YEAH.

20 MILES.

Huell: AND WHAT'S IT LIKE?

GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT CYCLING UP AND DOWN THE L.A. RIVER HERE.

>> WELL, YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT BIRDS, DIFFERENT, UH... YOU SEE KIND OF BLUE JAYS.

YOU SEE ANY KIND OF BIRDS HERE.

Huell: YEAH.

>> YOU FIND THE RIVERBED FLYING.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN.

YOU TAKE OFF.

Huell: SO YOU REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, DON'T YOU?

>> OH, YES, I DO WHEN I HAVE A CHANCE.

WHEN I GET OFF FROM WORK, I DO MY LITTLE EXERCISE, GOING BACK AND FORTH.

Huell: AND WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THE L.A. RIVER AND THE POTENTIAL THAT ALL OF THIS HAS FOR PEOPLE TO USE IT AND ENJOY IT.

WELL, IT'S A GOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY-- CHILDREN, FAMILY, WITH THE BIKES, YOU COULD WALK.

YOU COULD DO ANYTHING IN THIS RIVERBED AND THIS--THIS PASS.

IT'S BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS.

AND IT'S A GREAT FEELING, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO...FRESH, HOW YOU FEEL IT COMING IN AND EVERYTHING.

Huell: YEAH!

THERE HE GOES.

DOWN THE RIVER.

PEDALING RIGHT BESIDE THE L.A. RIVER.

AND I GUESS THAT'LL GO RIGHT UNDER THE 710 FREEWAY AND THEN POP BACK UP AGAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE.

HE'S GIVING US A WAVE.

AND HE'S RIGHT.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET SOME EXERCISE AND SEE THE CITY AND ENJOY THE RIVER.

FROM THE BIKE PATH TO THIS PIECE OF VACANT LAND, THIS OPEN SPACE RIGHT HERE BY THE 710 FREEWAY WHICH RUNS RIGHT BESIDE THE RIVER.

VALORIE AND LARRY, YOU GOTTA GET ME EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I KNOW THIS IS ALL PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.

WHAT'S THIS GONNA BE USED FOR?

>> WELL, THIS LAND IS A PART OF THE FEW OPEN SPACES LEFT IN OUR BUILT-OUT URBAN L.A.

ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO WHAT THE COLLABORATION OF LOCAL AGENCIES, STATE AGENCIES WITH FUNDING, AND NONPROFITS ARE TRYING TO DO IS TURN THIS PIECE OF LAND INTO A MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT.

WE WANT TO RESTORE IT SO THAT WE CAN COLLECT STORM WATER AND RUNOFF FROM THE LOCAL AREA.

CLEANSE IT WITH THE PLANTINGS, NATIVE PLANTINGS THAT ARE ON THE SITE.

WE ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE EXTRA PATHWAYS AND A BIKE REST STOP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSING THROUGH ON THIS BIKE PATH SO THAT THEY HAVE A REST AREA.

AND ADDITIONALLY, THE ENTIRE AREA HAS A NEED FOR MORE GREEN SPACE.

THE MANUFACTURE AND, UH, THE INDUSTRY IS CHANGING IN THIS AREA.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE OFFICE SPACE, MORE PROFESSIONAL SPACES, AND THEY'RE ATTRACTED TO THE BEAUTY AND THE AESTHETICS OF THE AREA.

SO-- Huell: SO THEY COULD ACTUALLY BE PUTTING SOME OFFICE BUILDINGS UP IN HERE, WITH GREEN SPACE RIGHT HERE ON THE RIVER.

>> THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OR ON THIS SIDE.

BUT THEY WOULD HAVE A VIEW.

Huell: ISN'T THIS KIND OF--IN A WAY IT'S VERY HOPEFUL.

IN A WAY IT'S KIND OF SAD THAT WE'RE DOWN TO JUST SMALL PIECES LIKE THIS.

BUT EVERY PIECE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, IS IMPORTANT TO PUTTING THIS PUZZLE TOGETHER, ISN'T IT, LARRY?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY PIECE MATTERS.

AND THIS IS THE KIND OF REMNANT LAND THAT WE HAVE.

WHEN THE FREEWAYS WERE PUT IN, WHEN THE CHANNEL WAS CONCRETED IN, THIS IS WHAT WAS LEFT OVER-- UNDER-UTILIZED SPACE--BUT WE WE VIEW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

MUCH LIKE YOU SAW IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE RIVER IN FROGTOWN, THIS IS AT A LARGER SCALE, AND THE SAME KIND OF IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE DONE AT THAT SCALE.

IN FACT, YOU CAN ENVISION LEVERAGING WHATEVER IMPROVEMENTS THEY'RE GONNA DO ALONG THE FREEWAY BY PUTTING UP A SOUND WALL, CREATING SOME SOUND BARRIER, CREATING A MORE OF AN OASIS FEELING HERE AND CONNECTING IT WITH GREEN TO THE RIVER.

Huell: SO THIS COULD BE A BEAUTIFUL GREEN STRIP OF A PARK RIGHT HERE BY THE 710 FREEWAY AND THE L.A. RIVER.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE AT CERTAIN POINTS, BUT THAT'S THE DREAM.

THAT'S PART OF THAT DREAM-- CAPTURING THIS AND CONNECTING THEM, AS YOU SAW.

Huell: GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> HI.

Huell: YOU'RE WALKING BY THE L.A. RIVER.

>> HOW ARE YOU?

Huell: NOW, DO YOU MAKE--IS THIS A--A USUAL WAY YOU SPEND THE AFTERNOON, WALKING BY THE RIVER LIKE THIS?

>> WE HAVE AN OFFICE RIGHT OVER HERE.

SO, UH...MAYBE WE... >> WE COME OUT ONCE IN A WHILE.

Huell: JUST TO KIND OF GET OUT, GET SOME EXERCISE, GET SOME FRESH AIR.

>> YES.

Huell: AND WE'RE SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY ON THE RIVER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE RIVER, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF THE RIVER?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE, UH, WE NEED THIS BECAUSE OF WHEN IT'S FLOODED, YOU KNOW.

IT'S ONE GOOD WAY TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF THE WATER PROBLEM, TO BEGIN WITH.

Huell: YEAH, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RECREATION AND THE WAYS THAT YOU'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT NOW?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, MAYBE AFTER 4:00 OR 5 P.M., THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE COMING OUT.

Huell: JUST WALKING.

>> YEAH.

IT'S A GOOD VIEW.

>> THEY ARE RUNNING AND... YOU KNOW.

Huell: YEAH!

>> IT'S BETTER THAN LOOKING AT THE FREEWAY...ANYWAY.

Huell: SO YOU JUST COME OUT HERE AND ENJOY THE RIVER.

>> YES.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS INTERESTING.

WE'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO WERE HIKING BY THE RIVER, WHO WERE RIDING BIKES BY THE RIVER, WHO WERE RUNNING BY THE RIVER, BUT NOW WE'VE COME UNDERNEATH THIS BRIDGE HERE--NOW, WHERE ARE YOU GUYS FROM?

WHICH HIGH SCHOOL?

>> UH, DOMINGUEZ.

Huell: DOMINGUEZ.

AND WHAT IS IT YOU DO DOWN HERE EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL?

>> WE JUST KICK IT.

Huell: YOU'RE KICKIN' IT, BUT WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING ELSE RIGHT HERE ON THIS WALL.

>> SLIDING DOWN.

>> RUN UP AND SLIDE DOWN.

Huell: YOU RUN UP AND SLIDE BACK DOWN.

CAN YOU DO THAT FOR ME?

>> I CAN'T.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, LE'S SEE YOU DO IT.

COME ON.

HERE YOU GO.

HERE THEY GO.

[HUELL LAUGHING] WHOA!

[HUELL LAUGHING] COME ON DOWN.

SLIDE DOWN.

JUST ANOTHER FUN THING TO DO HERE BY THE L.A. RIVER.

GIVES US A THUMBS-UP, FELLAS.

HA HA HA HA!

AS THE SWALLOWS FILL THE AIR, WE'RE ALMOST AT THE END OF OUR JOURNEY.

WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET UP WITH MARIA LOPEZ FROM THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AND TALK ABOUT YOUR PROJECT.

AND THIS IS ONE YOU ARE VERY PROUD OF.

>> I SURE AM.

THIS IS--WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING A LOOK AT IS ACTUALLY THE DOMINGUEZ GAP WETLANDS PROJECT.

AND THE REASON THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT IS ACTUALLY BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS THE FLOOD CONTROL FACILITY.

IT'S A SPREADING GROUNDS.

IT'S A FACILITY THAT FOR YEARS, SINCE 1958, HAS OPERATED AS A SPREADING GROUNDS TO DETAIN AND INFILTRATE STORM WATER FLOWS.

AND THE COUNTY AND WORKING WITH A LOT OF THE GROUPS AROUND HERE IS CONVERTING IT INTO A MULTI-USE PROJECT, WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE DEVELOPING IT INTO A WETLANDS THAT'S GONNA OFFER WATER QUALITY BENEFITS AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

Huell: SO IN THE PAST, THIS WAS JUST A DUMPING GROUND FOR WATER, FOR DRAIN WATER.

>> WELL, YEAH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE--WELL, WE PASSED IT UP NOW, BUT WE BRING IN WATER FROM THE LOS ANGELES RIVER, DETAIN IT, ACTUALLY SIPHON IT UNDER THE L.A. RIVER OVER TO ANOTHER BASIN ON THE OTHER SIDE--THE WEST BASIN OF THE DOMINGUEZ GAP WETLANDS, AND WE INFILTRATE IT TO THE GROUNDWATER.

Huell: BUT NOW YOU'RE MAKING THIS AMAZING--AND WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN HERE, YOU CAN BEGIN TO SEE HOW COMPLEX AND BEAUTIFUL THIS IS GONNA BE.

THIS IS, WHEN IT'S FINISHED, GOING TO BE AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS BEAUTIFUL WETLANDS.

>> IT SURE WILL.

WE'RE LOOKING TO ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 50 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED OFF TO THE PUBLIC.

NOBODY'S BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS THIS.

IT'S STRICTLY BEEN A STORM-WATER DETENTION FACILITY, AS I'VE MENTIONED.

BUT NOW THESE 50 ACRES WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Huell: NOW, WHAT WILL WE BE ABLE TO DO, WANDER ALL AROUND DOWN IN HERE, OR IS THIS JUST FOR BIRDS AND FISH, OR CAN PEOPLE GO DOWN AND ENJOY ALL OF THIS, TOO?

> PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GO DOWN AND INTERACT WITH NATURE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TRAILS THAT WILL GO ALONG THE LENGTHS AROUND THE ENTIRE WETLANDS, AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE FACILITIES OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'VE PLACED ON...THE SEATING AND VIEWING AREAS.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PLATFORM AREAS.

WE ARE GONNA HAVE SIGNAGE OUT HERE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE REST STOPS.

IT'LL BE GREAT.

Huell: SEE, NOW, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING IN PROGRESS RIGHT HERE ALONG THE SIDE OF THE L.A. RIVER THAT IS TRULY WONDERFUL AND IS GONNA OPEN UP SUCH WONDERFUL POSSIBILITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DOWN IN THIS SECTION OF THE RIVER DON'T HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT A WETLANDS.

>> EXACTLY.

WE'RE REALLY--WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS NOW, AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED THAT IT'S COMING TO AN END AND THEY'RE GONNA TRULY BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE AND ENJOY WHAT THE RIVER HAS TO OFFER.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE POSITIVE STORIES ABOUT THINGS HAPPENING ALONG THE RIVER.

I GUESS EVERYBODY DOWN HERE KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BUT THIS IS BRAND-NEW INFORMATION FOR ME.

>> WELL, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE GETTING TO SEE IT FIRST-HAND, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF MANY PROJECTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS SLOWLY BEEN WORKING WITH AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO JUST GET UNDERWAY, SO... Huell: WELL, IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO GET ALL OF THIS DONE, BUT IT'S BEGINNING TO FALL INTO PLACE, ISN'T IT?

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS EXCITING.

WE HAVE COME ONTO THE LAST SECTION OF THE RIVER, AND THIS, ONCE AGAIN, IS A RIVER WITH A SOFT BOTTOM.

>> IT IS.

WE'RE APPROACHING THE LOWER END OF THE RIVER, AND WE'RE INTO THE ESTUARY AREA HERE.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S NO CONCRETE BOTTOM.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS, AS WE COME INTO HERE THE FLOWS ARE SOMEWHAT SLOWER.

AND ALSO, THERE'S A DESIRE TO HAVE SOME OF THE STORM FLOWS PERCOLATE INTO THE GROUND TO, AGAIN, PROTECT OUR GROUNDWATER BASINS FROM SEAWATER INTRUSION.

Huell: BOY, IT'S AMAZING HOW THE RIVER CHANGES SO QUICKLY ONCE YOU TAKE AWAY ALL THAT CONCRETE AND START SEEING THE-- THE EARTH.

START SEEING THE DIRT AND ROCKS AND TREES AND PLANTS.

>> I MEAN, IT SURE--IT SURE DOES, HUELL.

I MEAN, YOU SEE THE MUCH MORE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT DOWN IN THIS REACH.

Huell: WE'RE JUST ABOUT AT THE END OF OUR L.A. RIVER ADVENTURE.

WE'RE HERE IN LONG BEACH.

I'VE HOOKED UP WITH... >> LENNY ARKINSTALL, THE LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS STEWARD.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, LENNY, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY--THIS IS A REAL SUCCESS STORY RIGHT HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS THE GOLDEN SHORE RESERVE.

IT'S A VALUABLE LITTLE PIECE OF WETLANDS.

YOU KNOW, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WE HAVE NONE.

AND, UH-- Huell: IT DIDN'T USED TO BE A WETLAND.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AT ONE TIME THIS WAS A LAUNCH RAMP TO LAUNCH YOUR BOAT, AND THEY CAME IN AND DUG THIS ALL OUT.

WE GOT A LITTLE OVER 6 ACRES AND LOTS OF VEGETATION IN THERE.

Huell: AND LOTS OF BIRDS, AND YOU'RE AT LOW TIDE, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT NOW.

UH, SO WHEN IT'S FILLED UP, IT'S EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THIS, BUT YOU'VE REALLY, LITERALLY CREATED THIS 6-ACRE WETLAND RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

>> CORRECT.

IT'S AN URBAN WETLANDS.

IT SERVES A PURPOSE.

THE BIRDS COME AND SHIFT AND CHANGE, AND THROUGH THE SEASONS, AND IT'S LOADED WITH WILDLIFE AT TIMES.

Huell: WELL, IT'S ONE OF THOSE L.A. RIVER SUCCESS STORIES, 'CAUSE RIGHT OVER HERE IS THE L.A. RIVER.

OR IS IT REALLY?

IS THIS PART OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN COMING IN HERE?

THIS IS WHERE THE TWO KIND OF MIX TOGETHER, ISN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS WHERE THEY--THE OCEAN MEETS THE RIVER.

>> IT IS AT THE END OF YOUR JOURNEY AND, UH, IT--IN THE WINTERTIME YOU GET A LOT OF BRACKISH WATER HERE, BUT FROM HERE ON IT'S ALL MARINE WATER.

Huell: SO THIS IS SALTWATER, OR IS THIS THE MIXTURE?

IT BEGINS TO MIX RIGHT IN HERE, DOESN'T IT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT'S RIGHT ABOUT AT THIS POINT HERE, AND AS YOU SEE OUT THERE, THAT'S THE ENTRANCE TO THE OCEAN.

Huell: THERE'S THE QUEEN MARY OUT THERE, AND RIGHT HERE IS ANOTHER PART OF THE STORY, AND THIS ISN'T THE MOST PLEASANT PART OF THE STORY, BUT IT'S-- WE'RE BEING HONEST HERE.

TELL US WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THESE BLACK BAGS.

>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT TRASH, HUELL.

THIS IS ALL THE TRASH FROM THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES.

IT ALL ENDS UP DOWN HERE.

AND IT'S A BATTLE.

IT'S A CONTINUING BATTLE.

ALL YEAR-ROUND WE CONTINUE CLEANUPS.

WE HAVE THE NICE VOLUNTEERS AND THE STUDENTS AND...BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT MAKES ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS FEEL HAPPY 'CAUSE OF THE WETLANDS.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

Huell: SO THEY CLEAN ALL OF THIS GARBAGE OUT OF THESE BEAUTIFUL WETLANDS THAT YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED HERE, ALL OF THIS GARBAGE THAT HAS WASHED DOWN THE L.A. RIVER TO THIS PLACE HERE IN LONG BEACH.

>> YES.

AND IT'S A--IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS HAS TO HAPPEN, BUT IT TAKES THE FOLKS, THE VOLUNTEERS AND EVERYTHING THAT HAVE TO CARE ABOUT WETLANDS TO KEEP IT VIABLE LIKE THIS.

Huell: WELL, THAT'S IT, OUR DAY ON THE LOST ANGELES RIVER, A DAY THAT STARTED EARLY THIS MORNING 26 MILES UPSTREAM IN LOS FELIZ AND OF COURSE HAS ENDED HERE IN LONG BEACH AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER AS IT DUMPS INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

SHELLY, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM ALL OF THIS?

>> WOW.

WE'VE--WE'VE COVERED THE MANY FACETS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER, FROM NATURAL BOTTOM TO THE SPRING COMING UP IN THE CONCRETE.

WE SAW LIFE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WHERE YOU WOULDN'T THINK YOU WOULD.

WE GOT TO SMELL THE FARMER JOHN BACON.

I MEAN, WHAT MORE CAN YOU SAY THAN THAT?

BUT WE REALLY GOT THAT PERSPECTIVE OF BEING DOWN IN THE FLOOD CHANNEL, THIS FLOOD PROTECTION, AS WE SAY.

AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS-- THE POTENTIAL--AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE RIVER, AND IT'S JUST FANTASTIC.

Huell: LOTS OF EXCITING STORIES ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.

GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED ON THE RIVER.

AND THEN WE'VE SEEN THE POTENTIAL FOR ALL THESE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS UP AND DOWN THE RIVER.

THIS IS A VERY EXCITING STORY WITH AN EXCITING FUTURE TO IT.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT YOU'VE ALSO SEEN THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH TODAY, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THE RIVER.

UM, IT'S TREMENDOUS, AND IT KEEPS BUILDING, AND I JUST LOVE BEING A PART OF THAT.

Huell: WELL, IT'S AN EVOLVING STORY.

>> IT IS.

Huell: A STORY THAT'S JUST GONNA GET BETTER AS TIME GOES ON.

PEOPLE HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE.

BUT EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

EVERYTHING IS MOVING FORWARD.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S PERFECT.

THAT'S THE PERFECT SUMMATION, I'D SAY.

Huell: AND WHAT WAS IT THAT YOU SAID EARLIER TODAY WHEN I SAID IT SHOULD BE ON A BUMPER STICKER?

>> SWIMMABLE, FISHABLE, BOATABLE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Huell: USABLE.

>> USABLE.

Huell: BECAUSE THIS RIVER BELONGS TO US ALL.

IT IS A TRUE ASSET FOR OUR STATE.

THIS LOS ANGELES RIVER WHICH FOR SO MANY YEARS WAS NEGLECTED, FORGOTTEN ABOUT, USED LITERALLY AS A DUMPING GROUND, NOW HAS A NEW LIFE... A WONDERFUL LIFE, WHERE IT'S GONNA BE USED BY ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THIS IS INDEED A VERY EXCITING STORY.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH US.

Huell: THANK YOU FOR TAKING US WITH YOU ON THIS TRIP.

>> YEAH.

MY GREAT PLEASURE.

Huell: THERE'S OUR MOTLEY CREW BACK THERE.

GIVE US A WAVE.

YEAH.

THEY'VE BEEN WITH US MOST OF THE DAY.

A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE ALREADY PEELED OFF.

>> YEAH.

Huell: BUT THIS IS THE HARD-CORE GROUP HERE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY.

I HOPE YOU HAVE AS WELL.

COME ON OUT AND USE THE RIVER.

ENJOY THE RIVER.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WONDERFUL RIVER THAT IS HERE FOR ALL OF US.

THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.

A HISTORIC RIVER AND A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE FUTURE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...