Flooding, Filming and The LA River

Flooding on the streets of Los Angeles 1930's

Flooding on the streets of Los Angeles 1930s

Los Angeles River 2009

Glendale Narrows 2009

Catastrophic flooding in Los Angeles in February of 1914 and in March of 1938 prompted the US Army Corps of Engineers to line the Los Angeles riverbed with concrete thus turning it into the flood control channel we see today. There are a few stretches of the river where natural wetlands and wildlife still exists and we are lucky enough to have one of these areas east of Griffith Park called the Glendale Narrows. If you have not yet done so check out the Glendale Narrows but please be respectful not only to the wildlife but to the residents of the Elysian Valley neighborhood, many of whom have a backyard facing the river.

Although many have labeled the “concrete river” as an eyesore, John Travolta would never have had that cool drag race in the movie Grease without that flat smooth gray surface and Edward Furlong and Governor Arnold would never have had their motorcycle chase in Terminator II without the concrete bed but the giant ants in the 1956 movie “Them” would have been indifferent about colonizing on concrete or on a natural riverbed, both paid union scale.

Help support the Friends of The Los Angeles River at http://www.folar.org/.