The Los Angeles River didn’t always look like a giant concrete channel. Before the 20th century, it was a wild, shifting river surrounded by wetlands and floodplains. But that came with a serious problem: flooding.
In the early 1900s, especially after devastating storms like the Great Flood of 1938, the city faced repeated destruction. Homes, roads, and entire neighborhoods were at risk. The solution was drastic but effective. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led a massive project to encase most of the river in concrete, speeding water safely out to the ocean.
It worked, but at a cost… The natural ecosystem was largely erased. Wetlands that once absorbed floodwater and supported wildlife disappeared, replaced by a sterile channel.
As Candice Dickens-Russell, President & CEO of Friends of the L.A. River, explains, “flooding is a reality in Los Angeles… but I don’t think it makes sense to remove all the concrete tomorrow.” Instead, she points to a more balanced approach: reducing concrete where possible while maintaining flood protection.
One surprising exception is the Glendale Narrows, where the riverbed remains soft. Here, “nature fought back,” allowing plants and wildlife to return. Efforts like these are helping restore parts of the river, and even bringing back species like the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo.
What is FoLAR, and what do they do?
Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) was founded in 1986 with a simple but ambitious mission: bring the river back to life. The group works on habitat restoration, community programs, and advocacy to transform the river into a healthier, more accessible space.
Over the years, FoLAR has helped lead cleanups, educational programs, and major restoration efforts. They’ve also played a key role in shifting how Angelenos see the river, not as a flood control ditch, but as a natural and cultural asset.
As Dickens-Russell puts it, the goal isn’t to erase the past but to rethink the future: “There are places where we can have less concrete.”
