L.A. River Index
In 2014, we partnered with Gehry Partners, OLIN, and Geosyntec to digest and explore the enormous amount of data surrounding the Los Angeles River. Our goal was to build upon the 25 years of work to create a single framework by which future projects for the river could be evaluated. For example, if a city wanted to build a park along the LA River, this index could be used to determine if it’s in the right location based off of population need, etc.
The River Index was launched in 2016 as an online resource full of data about the Los Angeles River and the communities it runs through. It’s been broken into nine sections, but really can be looked at through three lenses: People, water and nature.
The Index was the result of countless meetings with regional elected officials, peer and technical organizations, public agencies, and 100s of listening sessions with the general public. The data is a compilation of national, state, and local organizations, as well as our team (Gehry Partners, OLIN, and Geosyntec).
It evaluated the river’s potential across nine dimensions, using data to identify possible benefits to our region in terms of water, open space and people:
Flood Risk Management: Expand the LA River from a single-purpose flood channel to multi-functional waterway without reducing the flood protection we enjoy.
Water Recharge: Capture up to 28.6 billion gallons of water per year to replenish our aquifers.
Water Quality: Improve river water quality to help meet beneficial uses and positively impact our natural ecosystem.
Greenhouse Gases: Reduce greenhouse gases equivalent to 660 million miles driven per year to cut our carbon footprint.
Ecology & Habitat: Enhance and connect the region’s rich natural biodiversity.
Open Space & Parks: Create potential for 2300 acres of accessible and equitably distributed open space within a mile of the river.
Public Health & Social Equity: Promote healthier, more socially connected communities.
Transportation: Unite our region through improved mobility and access to public transportation.
Programming: Invigorate our communities with shared access to the arts, culture, education and recreation.
The stand-a-lone report has since been integrated into the County’s L.A. River Masterplan.
We thank the following major donors:
Achieving America Family Foundation
Andrea Gibbin
California Community Foundation/Opportunity Fund
The California Water Foundation program of Resources Legacy Fund
Goldhirsh Foundation
The JIB Fund
John W. Carson Foundation
JP Morgan Chase Bank
Luann and Bob Williams
Lynda and Stewart Resnick
The City of Long Beach
The Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Amy Gordon Yanow and Tony Yanow
…and matching Donations to the Yanow gift
