La Gran Limpieza, the Great L.A. River Clean-Up

Went down to the Bette Davis Picnic Area on the back-side of Griffith Park and helped FOLAR (Friends of Los Angeles River) clean up our "river".

I met some great people, and I really enjoyed seeing all of the kids that chose to get involved with such a great cause.

It is a nasty, sticky, dirty body of water that writhes its way through our metropolis. It needs some TLC every now and then.

LA GRAN LIMPIEZA / THE GREAT L.A. RIVER CLEANUP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8orn1FIN_W0

SATURDAY, May 17, 2008 - Footage of FoLAR's 19th Annual Great Los Angeles River CleanUp - Shot by Keith Coogan on a Sony HDR-HC1, edited with iMovie - Sponsored By:

BANK OF AMERICA ; City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation; Port of Long Beach; Warner Brothers; Keep California Beautiful; American Chemistry Council; Fox Entertainment Group; Metropolitan Water District; Albertsons; Baxter BioScience; CDM; CH2MHill; Eartwise Bags; Homeboy Industries; Kaiser; Los Angeles County Department of Public Works; Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine; Los Angeles Conservation Corps; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Mean Green Team Purifighters; Metrolink; Metropolitan Transit Authority; Patagonia; Raw Revolution; Supervisor Yvonne Burke; Tom's of Maine River Awareness Program; Water Replenishment District; Wenk and Associates; Yosemite Waters;

(FoLAR) Friends of the Los Angeles River is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1986, whose mission is to protect and restore the natural and historic heritage of the Los Angeles River and its riparian habitat through inclusive planning, education and wise stewardship. Once home to steelhead and grizzlies, the Los Angeles River meandered through wetlands, marshes, willow, alder and sycamore, providing desperately needed water for the region. Now running over 50 miles long - from the suburbs of the San Fernando Valley to the ocean in Long Beach - the Los Angeles River flows through 14 cities and countless neighborhoods. When the Army Corps of Engineers initiated a flood control project in the late 1930's, they began the process of paving 80% of the River, creating the world's largest storm drain. Over the ensuing decades, the River that had been the sole water supply for the City of Los Angeles before the Los Angeles Aqueduct was completed in 1913 almost disappeared from public consciousness. With the cement came a perceptual shift: the River no longer existed. Instead, it was a "flood control channel," a no-man's land, surrounded by fences and signs.
Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Tags: FOLAR LA GRAN LIMPIEZA THE GREAT L.A. RIVER CLEANUP KEITH COOGAN

Dear Friends,

I had a blast down at the Griffith Park section today. We entered through the Bette Davis Picnic Area and waded through the muck and the guck to try to help our city's strangest landmark. What other metropolis has a twisting cement wash with a four inch trickle of water that can suddenly turn into a raging rapids with the drop of a few inches of rain? From the Sepulveda basin to Long Beach, I simply love seeing the Los Angeles river from my car window anytime I drive near it. This was the first time I ventured into the actual riverbed, and I have to say, I had no idea what a cool place it is. If you get the chance, try to make it down next year and take part in a unique and benevolent experience.

Sincerely,

Keith Coogan