The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Los Angeles District has signed a design agreement to move forward with the LA River Ecosystem Restoration project at a recent meeting with city officials.
The agreement was formally presented to Gary Lee Moore, Los Angeles city engineer, and Carol Armstrong, executive officer to the Los Angeles Deputy Mayor of City Services, during a January 19 LA River site visit with Corps senior leaders, including Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, commanding general of the Corps; Brig. Gen. Pete Helmlinger, commanding general, South Pacific Division; and Col. Kirk Gibbs, commander of the Los Angeles District.
The project proposes restoration measures in and along an 11-mile stretch of the river to reestablish scarce riparian strand, freshwater marsh and aquatic habitat, while maintaining existing levels of flood risk management.
The plan will restore about 719 acres by widening the river in key areas using terracing and restructuring channel banks to support vegetation, create side channels and off-channel marsh, daylight small streams and remove invasive vegetation.
Associated recreation features include trails, vista points, educational amenities and pedestrian bridges.
Total estimated cost of the project is $1.4 billion and the design agreement will allow the District to begin the preconstruction, engineering and design phase of the project.
The first project feature is scheduled to be awarded for construction in fiscal year 2022.