Clean Water Act: How the L.A. River Became a River Again

Understanding the social ecology and connectivity of our cities and its watershed, organizations such as Heal the Bay, the Watershed Council, and the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy (to name a few) have began aggressive campaigns to restore our water ways. As education reform was the most pressing issue during the civil-rights movement of the 21st Century, over the last decade health care and access to green space have become central topics of the debate around the revitalization of inner cities. Today, watershed efforts are beginning to take off (and pay off) in small and big ways, ranging from community gardens and recycling programs to multimillion dollar urban revitalization plans. These organzations helped put forth the protections for the Clean Water Act for the Los Angeles River.

L.A. River Expeditions
LA River Expeditions George Wolfe, along with a team of kayakers, through their initial LA River expedition contributed to the eventual application of the Clean Water Act.

Clean Water Act
Compton Creek and Lower Los Angeles River Watershed Program Manager, Alex Kenefick on the Clean Water Act.