November 2023 URBANWATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP Restoring Urban Waters, Revitalizing Communities 2024 Los Angeles River Watershed Work Plan November 2023 Ambassador Team: Megan Whalen - Ambassador Grant Adams - Ambassador Team Member t EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Los Angeies River watershed from the Angeles National Forest to the Pacific Ocean creates a unique opportunity and challenge for those who live in its area. The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) fosters collaborative partnerships to address regional concerns in the 824 square miles of the Los Angeies River watershed. The Los Angeles River Location Ambassador is currently Megan Whalen and her team from USACE. Led by USAGE, this partnership includes federal agencies, local and state agencies, non-profit and community organizations, academic institutions consultants, residents, and students. VISION We seek a healthy, thriving, resilient watershed in which all local communities successfully adapt to climate change and environmental justice challenges through collaborative partnerships. MISSION The Los Angeles River Watershed Partnership is a network of federal, state, and local agencies, community-based organizations, consultants, and individuals, who collaborate on projects and programs to protect, restore, and revitalize the Los Angeles River Watershed. pg. 1 November 2023 ------- November 2023 GUIDING PRINCIPLES • Promote clean urban waters • Reconnect people to their waterways • Water conservation • Use urban water systems to promote economic revitalization and prosperity • Encourage community involvement through active partnerships • Be open and transparent, listening to communities, tribes and stakeholders • Focus on measuring results and evaluation to fuel future success WATERSHED GOALS l. Habitat Expansion - Restore ecosystem structure and functions of ecosystems including riparian, wetland, aquatic, floodplains, and upland areas including forests and meadows. 2. Open Space - Prioritize protection and acquisition of public open spaces for community gathering and recreational activities. 3. Connectivity and Access - Ensure communities are connected to and along the Los Angeles River and tributaries through a network of trails for pedestrians, bikes, and equestrians, with linkages to public transportation. 4. Flood - Coastal Resilience - Promote multi-purpose flood risk management projects to ensure public safety. 5. Drought Resilience - Reduce reliance on imported water supply through increased stormwater capture and groundwater recharge projects. 6. Water Quality - Improve water quality through collaborative projects and programs. COMMUNITY GOALS l. Environmental Justice - Promote activities and attend events that strive for education, inclusion and access to federal programs resources and access to the decision-making process. 2. Stewardship - Connect communities to the Los Angeles River and our water resources through stewardship programs such as youth and public education, restoration and/or native plant growing activities, water conservation programs, citizen monitoring programs, or other activities. 3. Economy - Revitalize urban waterways to promote community cohesiveness, revitalization, and prosperity NETWORK OBJECTIVES l. Collaboration - Strengthen and leverage the network of partners and organizations to amplify success in meeting watershed goals 2. Foster - Create space for diverse participation and equitable community benefits respectful of the power of place; recognize this partnership as a living network made up of individuals and organizations 3. Resource Sharing - increase ease of access to funding opportunities such as grants, and partnership programs to further community and watershed goals Pg- 2 November 2023 ------- November 2023 4. Benefits - measure results and evaluate progress to fuel future success WORK PLAN PROJECTS CRITERIA For inclusion in the Los Angeles River Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership WORK PLAN update, projects must meet the following criteria: 1. Have a federal nexus (federal agency partner or federal interest e.g., require a USACE 408 or 404 permit, etc.) 2. Multiple benefits and multiple partners 3. Address Work Plan goals & objectives CURRENT PROJECTS Projects listed below have been put forward by UWFP partners in workshops over the last year. These projects reflect UWFP goals, criteria and objectives outlined herein. Current projects are generally ongoing, but not yet completed. Please see Appendix 1 at the End of this document for detailed descriptions of these projects. Efforts: Projects or funding opportunities without a finite ending. 1. The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC) Program Project Lead: EPA Partners: All UWFP partners 2. USACE Silver Jackets California Team Project Lead: USACE, CADWR, California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Partners: FEMA, SoCal Flood Control Districts & Stormwater Managers 3. Unhoused Encampment Liaison Project Lead: Trevor Snyder, of USCAE SPL Partners: Open Projects: Finite endeavors that are ongoing. 4. Los Angeles River Fish Passage and Habitat Structures Design (LAR FPHS) Project Project Lead: Andrea Dell'Apa (Council for Watershed Health), Stillwater Sciences, City of Los Angeles Partners: Arroyo Seco Foundation, Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR), United States Bureau of Reclamation (U.S. BOR), Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), Los Angeles County 5. Los Angeles River Fish Passage Restoration (LAR FPR) Project Project Lead: Andrea Dell'Apa (Council for Watershed Health), Stillwater Sciences, City of Los pg. 3 November 2023 ------- November 2023 Angeles Partners: Arroyo Seco Foundation, FoLAR, U.S. BOR, SCCWRP, USACE, CDFW, NMFS, USFWS, RWQCB, LA County 6. Expanded Kayak Reaches Project Lead: LA River Expeditions (Anthea Raymond, GM) Partners: USACE 7. Improving Communities through River Stewardship with Trout Unlimited Project Lead: Robert Blankenship (Trout Unlimited, Secretary, South Coast Chapter), Partners: Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), City of Paramount, Compton Cowboys, Equestrian Groups, LA County Public Works 8. Atwater Village East Bank Riverwav Project Lead: Karen Barnett (Atwater Village Neighborhood Council (AVNC) board member) Partners: City of LA (BOE) $2.2-million grant from the California Natural Resources Agency 9. Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Project Project Lead: Edward Belden (Mayor's Office, City of Los Angeles), Partners: Arroyo Seco Foundation, LA County, Nature Conservancy, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, State Parks, Caltrans, National Park Service (NPS), Rails to Trails partnership 10. Arroyo Seco Ecosystem Restoration Project Lead: Tim Brick (Arroyo Seco Foundation) Partners: USACE, LA County, City of LA 11. Sepulveda Watershed Water Quality Monitoring Project Lead: Greg Mendez (Hydrologist, USGS Projects Office), Partners: MRCA, City of Los Angeles, USACE * Involved partners indicates that there is no single organization that heads efforts, but all are equal participants. 12. Bowtie Demonstration Project Involved Partners: Shona Ganguly (The Nature Conservancy) Mujeres de la Tierra, Friends of the LA River, CA State Parks, Clockshop, Anahuak Soccer, Audubon Center at Debs Park, 100-Acre Partners, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, the US Army Corps of Engineers, FoLAR and Prevention Institute 13. Ecological Goals and Evaluation for LA River Projects Involved Partners: Sabrina Drill (UC Cooperative Extension), Heal the Bay, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, SCCWRP 14. Safe Clean Water Program - Council for Watershed Health (CWH) Involved Partners: Carlos Moran (CWH), USACE, Seeking other federal partners pg. 4 November 2023 ------- November 2023 15. Arundo Eradication - Council For Watershed Health Involved Partners: Carlos Moran (CWH), USACE, Seeking other federal partners 16. Brownfields Assistance: Verdugo Wash Confluence Involved Partners: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Trust for Public Lands 17. Deep. Regional Groundwater Monitoring Network Involved Partners: USGS, Water Replenishment District of Southern California 18. El Dorado Park - Pacoima Wash Greenway Involved Partners: Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, USACE, City of LA- Recreation and Parks, and Bureau of Sanitation 19. Equity Principles for LA River Revitalization Involved partners: Public Counsel, Southeast Asian Community Alliance, SEACA, NRDC, LANLT, Community Enterprise, The City Project, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, From Lot to Spot, Housing Long Beach, WLCAC, Little Tokyo Service Center, WORKS 20. LA River Corps Involved Partners: LA Conservation Corps, USFWS, CA State Parks 21. Lower LA River Revitalization Master Plan Involved partners: Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, LA County Dept of Public Works, USACE 22. NELA Sustainabilitv Challenge Grant Involved Partners: USACE, L.A. City Economic Workforce Development Department, HUD, City of LA - EWDD, Planning, BOE, County of LA - EDC, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism's Metamorphosis Project, Occidental College's Urban Environmental Policy Institute, KCET Departures, River LA, Tierra West Advisors, L.A. Conservation Corps, and National Park Service; Design Collaborators: Dake + Luna Consultants, Mia Lehrer + Associates, LA Mas, and The Robert Group. 23. River Assessment Fieldwork Team (RAFT) Involved Partners: LA Waterkeeper, USACE PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES / CONCEPTS Existing, yet unexplored projects or ideas for efforts that could be acted upon by the LA River UWFP. • Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program (EJ TCTAC) Dialogue • Establishing an Unhoused Encampment Liaison / Working Group pg. 5 November 2023 ------- November 2023 • Increase ease of access and ease of understanding federal of grant opportunities and resources for partners • Silver Jackets Project Opportunity to Hold Flood Risk Communication/Emergency Preparedness Tabletop Exercise • Establishing "office hours" to route partners to LA river experts or federal partner assistance. FUNDING / TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES • Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program (EJ TCTAC) Dialogue • California Grant Opportunity Matrix. Click here -> • Geographic information resources for assistance purposes. o Council on Environmental Quality, Climate and Economic Justice Screening tool for locating historically underserved communities o The US Environmental Protection Agency's EJScreen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool • Safe Clean Water Program, LA: Regional Oversight Committee o Watershed coordinators. • Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART - these are grant and technical assistance programs for increasing water supply and quality as well as modernizing existing infrastructure. o Water and Energy Efficiency Grants o Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects o Water Marketing Strategy Grants o Cost sharing for: Environmental Water Resources Projects o Cost Sharing for: Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program • USACE Technical Assistance Programs-these are partnering programs for USACE staff to provide technical assistance (not granting programs) o Silver Jackets Project Opportunities (Proposals due March 31, Annually) o Flood Plain Management Services o Planning Assistance to States and Tribes o Technical Project Planning o Continuing Authorities Program PARTNERS Federal Agencies • Department of Agriculture - U.S. • Department of Housing and Urban Forest Service Development • Department of Commerce - • Department of Interior National Weather Service o Bureau of Reclamation • Department of Defense - Army o Fish and Wildlife Service Corps of Engineers o National Park Service o U.S. Geological Survey Pg- 6 November 2023 ------- November 2023 • Department of Transportation • The Office of Senator Dianne • Environmental Protection Agency Feinstein • The Office of Representative Adam Schiff California State Agencies • CA Department of Water Resources • Rivers and Mountains Conservancy • CA Dept of Toxic Substances • Santa Monica Mountains • CA High Speed Rail Conservancy CalFIRE • State Coastal Conservancy • California Conservation Corps • State Coastal Conservancy • Los Angeles Regional Water Quality • State Parks Control Board • Watershed Conservation Authority Local Government Agencies • City of Eastvale • Los Angeles County Public Works • City of Glendale • Los Angeles Regional Water Quality • City of Long Beach Control Board • City of Los Angeles • Los Angeles Unified School District • City of Signal Hill • Metro • City of South Gate • Metropolitan Water District • County of Los Angeles • Mountains Recreation and • Gateway Cities Council of Conservation Authority Governments • Resource Conservation District of • Los Angeles County Flood Control the Santa Monica Mountains District • San Diego County • Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation Non-Governmental Organizations • Active SGV • East Yard Communities for Justice • Amigos de Los Rios • Enterprise Community Partners • Arroyo Seco Foundation • Environment Now • Ascencia • Friends of the LA River • Audubon Center at Debs Park • Friends of the Verde River • California Botanic Garden • Heal the Bay • Center for Biological Diversity • Just Do Good (Compton) • City Plants • Kern River Conservancy • Community Conservations Solutions • KYCC • Council for Watershed Health • LA Conservation Corps Pg-1 November 2023 ------- November 2023 • LA County Bicycle Coalition • Neighborhood Housing Services of • LA Mas LA County • LA Neighborhood Land Trust • Northeast Trees • LA River Expeditions • Project 51 • LA River Kayak Safari • Proyecto Pastoral • LA River Revitalization Corp • River LA • LA River State Parks Partners • San Fernando Valley Audubon • LA Waterkeeper Society LI 1F SLATE-Z • Long Beach Conservation Corps • Southeast Asian Community • Mercy Housing Alliance • Michael D Baker • The Funders Network • Mujeres de la Tierra • The Nature Conservancy • National Forest Foundation • The River Project • National Parks Conservation • Theodore Payne Foundation Association • TreePeople • National Wildlife Refuge • Trout Unlimited Association • Trust for Public Land • Natural History Museum of LA • Urban Rivers Institute County • Urban Semillas • Natural Resource Defense Council • Walking Water Academia • California State University Los Angeles o UCLA Institute of the Environment • California State University Northridge and Sustainability • LMU Center of Urban Resilience • University of California San Diego • University of California Los Angeles • University of California Santa Barbara • University of Redlands Private Organizations • Arthur Golding and Associates • Project 51 • Cordoba Corp, CHSRA • RAC • ELP Advisors • SALT Landscape Architects • Estolano LeSar Perez Advisors • SBC Global • Evan Brooks Associates • Stantec • Geosyntec • Stillwater Sciences • KINDELGAGAN • Studio MLA • Michael D. Baker Inc. • The Wildling Studio • Parsons Brickerhoff Pg- 8 November 2023 ------- November 2023 PARTNERSHIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS The list below represents projects and programs done under the auspices of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. These include Working Groups, UWFP research projects, and other collaborative efforts that the Partnership undertook directly. • Hosted a Meet & Greet with Tanya Trujillo, Assistant Secretary Department of the Interior at Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park November 2022. • Leveraged virtual meeting technology to increase the frequency of partnership meetings and forums during COVID Pandemic and beyond • Established One-on-one meeting rhythm with federal partners to better coordinate funding distribution and assistance to other partners. • Bridge Construction for Improving Pedestrian and Multimodal Access • G2 Taylor Yards River Park • Improving ecosystem services for confined urban rivers • LA Regional Open Space and Affordable Housing • LA River Master Plan Revision • LA River StewMAP • Seed LA: Regional Native Seed Network • Youth Environmental Stewards • EJ Equity in Water Training NOV 2021 COMPLETED EFFORTS: The list below represents projects completed by partner organizations, but not necessarily by the network since the UWFP partnership has been established in 2011 to 2023. • Aliso Creek Confluence Park • Arroyo Seco Canyon • Arroyo Seco Watershed Feasibility Study (USACE + LA County Public Works) - completed 2016 • Bending the River/La Noria Water Wheel • Compton Creek Ecosystem Restoration • East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility (USACE + City of Long Beach) - Project will not be built; Draft Feasibility Report and EIS/EIR completed November 2019; technical report and Draft Recommended Plan to restore kelp beds, rocky reef and eelgrass beds are available. • Glendale Riverwalk Phases 2-3 • Headworks Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study (USACE) • Indicators of Watershed Health Project (Council for Watershed Health?) • Juan Bautista de Anza Historic Trail Certification • Los Angeles Basin Stormwater Conservation Study completed 2014 (County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Los Angeles County Flood Control District, US Bureau of Reclamation, USACE) • La Kretz Bridge (formerly known as the North Atwater Bridge) - Built XX Pg- 9 November 2023 ------- November 2023 • LA River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study (ARBOR) - USACE Study completed September 2015. • Los Angeles River Master Plan update, Los Angeles County Public Works (LACDPW), completed June 2022 • LA River Natural Park • Northeast LA Riverfront Collaborative • Pacoima Wash Greenway • Parque Dos Rios/South Gate Park Development • River Forecast Site along the LA River • Safe Routes to River • Sepulveda Basin 1135 Ecosystem Restoration Studies • Station Fire Restoration and Research Study • Sun Valley Watershed Feasibility Study (USACE + LA County Public Works) Appendix 1; Ongoing Projects & Efforts Details Descriptions: 1) Projects: specific efforts undertaken by partners with finite ends focusing on, but not limited to the UWFP goals, criteria and objectives outlined herein. Current projects are ongoing, but not completed. 2) Efforts: Projects or funding opportunities without a finite ending, which can be reoccurring or annual. Ongoing Efforts 1. The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC) Program Project lead: EPA Partners: All UWFP partners Description: EJ TCTAC is a nation-wide grant program which will provide grant funding to eligible applicants to establish technical assistance centers across the nation providing technical assistance, training, and related support to communities with environmental justice concerns and their partners. The new technical assistance centers will provide training, assistance, and capacity building on writing grant proposals, navigating federal systems such as Grants.gov and SAM.gov, and effectively managing grant funding. These centers will also provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants. The Corps LA District can assist by participating in this program and connecting communities to grants, funding and technical assistance. 2. USACE Silver Jackets California Team Project Lead: USACE, CADWR, CalOES pg. 10 November 2023 ------- November 2023 Partners: FEMA, SoCal Flood Control Districts & Stormwater Managers Description: Support emergency management agencies with pre-disaster preparedness including but not limited to floodplain mapping, EAP support, facilitate tabletop exercises, FRM outreach, etc. This will be achieved though collaborative technical assistance for interagency teams with nonstructural program & risk communication needs. Ongoing Projects 3. Los Angeles River Fish Passage and Habitat Structures Design (LAR FPHS) Project Project Lead: Andrea Dell'Apa (Council for Watershed Health), Stillwater Sciences, City of LA Partners: Arroyo Seco Foundation, FoLAR, U.S. BOR, SCCWRP, USACE, CDFW, NMFS, USFWS, RWQCB, LA County Description: Los Angeles River Fish Passage and Habitat Structures Design project aims to provide increased flow complexity and habitat heterogeneity within a confined urban stretch of the Los Angeles River mainstem channel to enhance steelhead fish passage and migration corridors to upper tributaries, which can also support other native fish species. This would be achieved though examining "fish- friendly" and cost-effective ways to redesign the channel bed and banks. The project will reach 60% Design and is planned for completion in December 2021. 4. Los Angeles River Fish Passage Restoration (LAR FPR) Project Project Lead: Andrea Dell'Apa (Council for Watershed Health), Stillwater Sciences, City of LA Partners: Arroyo Seco Foundation, FoLAR, U.S. BOR, SCCWRP, USACE, CDFW, NMFS, USFWS, RWQCB, LA County Description: Like the LAR FPHS, the Los Angeles River Fish Passage Restoration (LAR FPR) Project examine potential ways to redesign the channel bed and banks in a 4.8-mile section of the Los Angeles River in the downtown city area. This pilot effort aims to provide increased flow complexity and habitat heterogeneity within a confined urban stretch of the Los Angeles River mainstem channel to enhance steelhead fish passage and migration corridors to upper tributaries (e.g., Arroyo Seco, Tujunga Creek, and others). These two projects work hand in hand. 5. Expanded Kayak Reaches Project Lead: LA River Expeditions (Anthea Raymond, GM) Partners: USACE Description: Our Partners would love to see more sections of the LA River opened. Especially in Atwater near the Pedestrian Bridge & near Glendale Narrows Park, Burbank. These are green, attractive sections of the river that have positive Regional Economic Development benefits if expanded. Coordination and communication with the USACE and other partners would be excellent for advancing this project. 6. Improving Communities through River Stewardship with Trout Unlimited pg. 11 November 2023 ------- November 2023 Description: After receiving a grant from RMC there has been a need to create a restoration and access project for a ,6mi reach of the river bordering the cities of Compton and Paramount. There would be a focus on the riverbed and main stem. USACE also can assist with gathering partners and coordinate permit requirements, especially 404 and 408 requests. Involved Partners: Robert Blankenship (Trout Unlimited, Secretary, South Coast Chapter), RMC, City of Paramount, Compton Cowboys, Equestrian Groups, LA County Public Works 7. Atwater Village East Bank Riverwav Project Lead: Karen Barnett (AVNC board member) Partners: City of LA (BOE) $2.2-million grant from the California Natural Resources Agency Description: Connect 4 miles of the LA Riverfront in Atwater Village: Connect the east bank of the LA River for community members and visitors. Provide a safe route for all river user, especially those who do not feel safe on the bike path (west bank). The AVNC River Committee works to inform the community of upcoming projects, ordinances, and changes that affect Atwater Village. 8. Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Project Project Lead: Edward Belden (Mayor's Office, City of Los Angeles), Partners: Arroyo Seco Foundation, LA County, Nature Conservancy, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, State Parks, Caltrans, NPS, Rails to Trails partnership Description: The Ecosystem Restoration project involves restoring 11 miles of the Los Angeles River from approximately Griffith Park to downtown Los Angeles, while maintaining existing levels of flood risk management. The Ecosystem Restoration project includes creation and reestablishment of historic riparian strand and freshwater marsh habitat to support increased populations of wildlife and enhance habitat connectivity. This is in addition to new parks, open space, fish passage in heavily urban/environmental justice area, as well as additional bike path connections. This project is also tied to ongoing efforts including: USACE LAR Eco Project (in PED); City of Los Angeles Revitalization Master Plan; Los Angeles County Master Plan (1996, 2022); Los Angeles River (City of Los Angeles) P3; LACDA Disposition Study USACE- Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW). 9. Arroyo Seco Ecosystem Restoration Project Lead: Tim Brick (Arroyo Seco Foundation) Partners: USACE, LA County, City of LA Description: In this 20-year-old project attempts to restore endangered species habitat, while also managing flood protection for the region. There are many opportunities for funding from the County of LA and can dovetail wither projects like the reintroduction of steelhead trout to the region. USACE needs to accommodate unique conditions/seasonality in SoCal. Now there is a certain urgency with this project as ecosystem challenges persist unaddressed, especially those associated with mounting climate change. 10. Sepulveda Watershed Water Quality Monitoring pg. 12 November 2023 ------- November 2023 Project Lead: Greg Mendez (Hydrologist, USGS Projects Office), Partners: MRCA, USACE, LA County Description: Monitoring water quality in Spring and Summer. Idea is to share data for recreation purposes. Collect baseline data for sediment transport. USACE can assist with monitoring and permitting process navigation. 11. Bowtie Demonstration Project Description: The 18-acre Bowtie Parcel is a unique open space on the east bank of the Los Angeles River. This project will daylight (or open) a storm drain from an existing underground pipe located on the north end of the Bowtie Parcel. The Nature Conservancy is working with the Prevention Institute to manage an outreach and engagement plan in Northeast LA communities. Additionally, this an opportunity for water capture and treatment, public access, recreation, and habitat creation Involved Partners: Shona Ganguly (The Nature Conservancy) Mujeres de la Tierra, Friends of the LA River, CA State Parks, Clockshop, Anahuak Soccer, Audubon Center at Debs Park, 100-Acre Partners, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, the US Army Corps of Engineers, FoLAR and Prevention Institute 12. Ecological Goals and Evaluation for LA River Projects Description: Develop set of standard goals, criteria, and targets to measure success for helping LA River projects meet specified concepts for ecological restoration and ecosystem services. Provide a set of tools, grounded in scientific principles, that can facilitate incorporating and supporting ecological function and resilience into Los Angeles River. This project would allow partners to solicit input and can follow up with reviews of projects for collaboration. Involved Partners: Sabrina Drill (University of California Cooperative Extension), Heal the Bay, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, and SCCWRP 13. Safe Clean Water Program - Council for Watershed Health Description: Established in 2018 with the guiding goals of improving water quality, increasing water supply and enhancing communities. A part of the Technical Resources Program, it was established to educate and build capacity in communities, connect potential applicants to technical resources, and build inclusion and meaningful engagement in pursuit of Safe Clean Water Program Goals. Involved Partnersi_Carlos Moran (CWH), USACE, Seeking other federal partners 14. Arundo Eradication - Council For Watershed Health Description: The elimination of the invasive plant species Arundo donax, a highly invasive riparian plant species, for the remaining areas of the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed. The project will impact an estimated 72 miles of stream. Arundo (AKA giant reed) has significant negative impacts on water availability, water quality, fires and habitat. pg. 13 November 2023 ------- November 2023 Involved Partnersi_Carlos Moran (CWH), USACE, Seeking other federal partners 15. Brownfields Assistance: Verdugo Wash Confluence Description: EPA has selected the Trust for Public Land as a Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant recipient. The Trust for Public Land will work with the community and other stakeholders to develop an area-wide plan and implementation strategy for the Los Angeles River and Verdugo Wash Confluence Study Area in the City of Los Angeles. Involved Partners: EPA, Trust for Public Lands 16. Deep. Regional Groundwater Monitoring Network Description: Active. Multiple-completion monitoring well site (1 of 58 in the basin), with seven piezometers ranging from depths of 95 to 2,000 feet below ground. Involved Partners: USGS, Water Replenishment District of Southern California 17. El Dorado Park - Pacoima Wash greenwav Description: New natural park along Pacoima Wash developed by MRCA and will be managed by owner City of Los Angeles. 1.2-acre park that collects, treats, and infiltrates up to 23 acres of stormwater runoff from adjacent community through forebay, bioswales, and basin system at El Dorado and Tamarack Avenue street ends. Park will also have network of trails, play and exercise equipment, seating, native plants and trees, and informational interpretive signage. When the future Pacoima Wash Bikeway is developed in Pacoima, the park will also be a gateway onto the bikeway. Involved Partners: Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, USACE, City of Los Angeles - Recreation and Parks, and Bureau of Sanitation 18. Equity Principles for Los Angeles River Revitalization Description: Given the dozens of policy vehicles and strategies impacting in Los Angeles River restoration (municipal finance, land use planning, etc.) we wanted to create a series of overarching principals that could govern all of it and would utilize across a variety of platforms (transparency, racial equity, economic justice etc.). Over 75 stakeholders were brought together in the collaboration that identified seven redevelopment components into which LA River and Watershed decision-makers and funders must incorporate equity principles to combat inequitable outcomes already threatening River communities. For each, they have articulated equity goals and the programs for realizing them and demand all River planning and projects adopt these principles. Involved partners: Public Counsel, Southeast Asian Community Alliance, SEACA, NRDC, LANLT, Community Enterprise, The City Project, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, From Lot to Spot, Housing Long Beach, WLCAC, Little Tokyo Service Center, WORKS 19. Los Angeles River Corps Description: Funds under this award is used to engage youth ages 18-25 to work along the Los Angeles River and do educational programs with Friends of the Los Angeles River through the Los Angeles Conservation Corps River Corps Program. pg. 14 November 2023 ------- November 2023 Involved Partners: LA Conservation Corps, USFWS, CA State Parks 20. Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan Description: The Lower Los Angeles River (river) is the core of southeast Los Angeles and serves a critical role in managing flood risk. It protects life and property by collecting stormwater from surrounding areas and conveying it to the ocean. The river's paths and trails also provide a space for the community to recreate and travel within the region. Despite these functions, the river's potential value as a place for relaxation, discovery, recreation, tourism, and economic development is yet to be realized. This pan will also be incorporated into the LA River Masterplan for the entire 51 miles of waterways. The Masterplan has been released but Federal agencies can continue to support its efforts, especially though existing working groups. Involved partners: Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, LA County Dept of Public Works, USACE, 21. Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) Sustainabilitv Challenge Grant Description: Pursuant to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $2.25M grant to the City of Los Angeles on behalf of the HUD-DOT-EPA Federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities, this project will create an implementation strategy for the redevelopment of 2,200 acres of the Glendale Narrows portion of the LA River, guided by the policy and vision of the City of LA's 2007 LA River Revitalization Master Plan. It will include consideration of land use, especially industrial and commercial zoning refinement, creation of integrated mobility hubs to support carpooling, bicycle use, and light rail ridership, a feasibility study on the creation of a regional food hub and will convene a working group of business leaders and workforce development professionals to oversee a needs assessment and develop training curricula for workforce development. The project will focus on proactive outreach to communities who would not normally participate in the planning process. NELA Riverfront Collaborative Project Evaluation and Toolkit delivered in Summer, 2014 Involved Partners: USACE, L.A. City Economic Workforce Development Department, HUD, City of LA- EWDD, Planning, BOE, County of LA - EDC, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism's Metamorphosis Project, Occidental College's Urban Environmental Policy Institute, KCET Departures, River LA, Tierra West Advisors, L.A. Conservation Corps, and National Park Service; Design Collaborators: Dake + Luna Consultants, Mia Lehrer + Associates, LA Mas, and The Robert Group. 22. River Assessment Fieldwork Team (RAFT) Description: We are training and partnering with volunteers on a water quality and ecological health monitoring program along three stretches of the Los Angeles River that tell different stories about river health: the Arroyo Seco, Glendale Narrows and Maywood. We are coming together to understand the water quality, habitat complexity and biological richness of our river, while reimagining the role of a healthier river in the lives of current and future generations. RAFT volunteers gain scientific monitoring skills and have the opportunity to participate in workshops to understand our data and to activate it together. Together, we can reframe the current dialogue around the river in socio-ecological terms. Involved Partners: LA Waterkeeper, USACE pg. 15 November 2023 ------- |