AB 1558: Los Angeles River: river ranger program.
- Session Year: 2017-2018
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2017-10-03
Existing law establishes the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (the conservancies) and prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the conservancies with regard to the protection, preservation, and development of certain lands along the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers and surrounding areas.
This bill would require the conservancies to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who assist the public at sites along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries, as prescribed. The bill would require the conservancies, no later than June 30, 2018, to develop a plan for the design and implementation of the program, containing specified components and information, and to provide a copy of the completed plan to certain legislative committees by that date.
Existing law establishes the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (the conservancies) and prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the conservancies with regard to the protection, preservation, and development of certain lands along the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers and surrounding areas.
This bill would require the conservancies to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who assist the public at sites along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries, as prescribed. The bill would require the conservancies, no later than June 30, 2018, to develop a plan for the design and implementation of the program, containing specified components and information, and to provide a copy of the completed plan to certain legislative committees by that date.
Existing law provides for the protection, enhancement, and restoration of rivers in this state. Existing law authorizes the Director of Water Resources to establish a program of flood control and urban creek restoration, known as the Urban Streams Restoration Program, consisting of the development of the capability by the Department of Water Resources to respond to requests from local agencies and organizations for planning and design assistance for efficient and effective urban creek protection, restoration, and enhancement. establishes the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (the conservancies) and prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the conservancies with regard to the protection, preservation, and development of certain lands along the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers and surrounding areas.
This bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board and the department, in collaboration, to establish a program to support urban communities in restoring their rivers for multiple benefits. The bill would, if the County of Los Angeles submits a proposal for a project for urban river restoration in the watershed of the Los Angeles River, require the board and the department to consider the proposal as a pilot project.This bill would require the conservancies to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who assist the public at sites along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries, as prescribed. The bill would require the conservancies, no later than June 30, 2018, to develop a plan for the design and implementation of the program, containing specified components and information, and to provide a copy of the completed plan to certain legislative committees by that date.
Existing law provides for the protection, enhancement, and restoration of rivers in this state. Existing law authorizes the Director of Water Resources to establish a program of flood control and urban creek restoration, known as the Urban Streams Restoration Program, consisting of the development of the capability by the Department of Water Resources to respond to requests from local agencies and organizations for planning and design assistance for efficient and effective urban creek protection, restoration, and enhancement.
This bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board and the department, in collaboration, to establish a program to support urban communities in restoring their rivers for multiple benefits. The bill would, if the County of Los Angeles submits a proposal for a project for urban river restoration in the watershed of the Los Angeles River, require the board and the department to consider the proposal as a pilot project.
The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a)Since the 1940s, the County of Los Angeles has managed the Los Angeles River as a concrete flood channel. The communities through which the river passes have had limited contact with or responsibility for the river.
(b)In the last several decades, the Los Angeles River has received greater public attention and support for its restoration and availability as an environmental and recreational resource for the communities through which the river passes, and Congress recently approved a restoration plan for an 11-mile segment of the river near Dodger Stadium in the City of Los Angeles. The Legislature has appropriated funds to pay some of the costs of the Los Angeles River restoration, including an amount of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), which has been authorized under a recently enacted bond measure to benefit the river.
(c)Some communities have parks along the Los Angeles River, and bicyclists traverse the bike paths on the rivers levees every day. The City of South Gate has shifted its policy to direct community attention to the benefits of the Los Angeles River.
(d)The Lower Los Angeles River Working Group is currently developing a plan for revitalizing the river downstream from the City of Los Angeles, and is considering ways to encourage communities to engage with the river and make the river a welcoming place for the communities through which it passes. The working group has also considered the possibility of placing river rangers, similar to National Park Service Rangers, to increase public safety and provide resource interpretation services for visitors to the river.
SEC. 2.(a)For purposes of this section, conservancies means the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
(b)The conservancies shall collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who provide assistance to the public at sites along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries. The conservancies shall solicit the participation of representatives of local governments that have jurisdiction over segments of the river, including the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles. The conservancies, in cooperation with the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group, no later than June 30, 2018, shall prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the program, including recommendations regarding ways to finance the establishment and ongoing implementation of the program, and shall ensure that the plan is developed to accomplish all of the following objectives:
(1)Establish an identity for the Los Angeles River as a place for its communities to enjoy recreational opportunities and learn about the rivers history and environmental resources.
(2)Improve public safety for visitors to the Los Angeles River.
(3)Foster collaboration among state and local government entities and other public agencies with jurisdiction over the Los Angeles River, and coordinate the work of these entities and public agencies with regard to the development, maintenance, and enhancement of the river and its resources.
(4)Protect the parks, open space, and other public places adjacent to the Los Angeles River.
(5)Engage communities along the Los Angeles River in the protection and preservation of the Los Angeles River and its resources.
(6)Promote equal access and equity among all communities along the Los Angeles River with regard to the development and placement of improvements along the river.
(7)Monitor the physical conditions, environmental health, and development of green space along the Los Angeles River.
(8)Provide a system for coordinating the work of river rangers with programs and services offered by local governments and conservation corps.
(9)Incorporate the findings and principles expressed in the Presidential Memorandum--Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters, dated January 12, 2017.
(c)No later than June 30, 2018, the conservancies shall submit a copy of the plan required to be prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) to the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(d)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed.
The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a)Since the 1940s, the County of Los Angeles has managed the Los Angeles River as a concrete flood channel. The communities through which the river passes have had limited contact with or responsibility for the river.
(b)In the last several decades, the Los Angeles River has received greater public attention and support for its restoration and availability as an environmental and recreational resource for the communities through which the river passes, and Congress recently approved a restoration plan for an 11-mile segment of the river near Dodger Stadium in the City of Los Angeles. The Legislature has appropriated funds to pay some of the costs of the Los Angeles River restoration, including an amount of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), which has been authorized under a recently enacted bond measure to benefit the river.
(c)Some communities have parks along the Los Angeles River, and bicyclists traverse the bike paths on the rivers levees every day. The City of South Gate has shifted its policy to direct community attention to the benefits of the Los Angeles River.
(d)The Lower Los Angeles River Working Group is currently developing a plan for revitalizing the river downstream from the City of Los Angeles, and is considering ways to encourage communities to engage with the river and make the river a welcoming place for the communities through which it passes. The working group has also considered the possibility of placing river rangers, similar to National Park Service Rangers, to increase public safety and provide resource interpretation services for visitors to the river.
SEC. 2.(a)For purposes of this section, conservancies means the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
(b)The conservancies shall collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who provide assistance to the public at sites along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries. The conservancies shall solicit the participation of representatives of local governments that have jurisdiction over segments of the river, including the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles. The conservancies, in cooperation with the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group, no later than June 30, 2018, shall prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the program, including recommendations regarding ways to finance the establishment and ongoing implementation of the program, and shall ensure that the plan is developed to accomplish all of the following objectives:
(1)Establish an identity for the Los Angeles River as a place for its communities to enjoy recreational opportunities and learn about the rivers history and environmental resources.
(2)Improve public safety for visitors to the Los Angeles River.
(3)Foster collaboration among state and local government entities and other public agencies with jurisdiction over the Los Angeles River, and coordinate the work of these entities and public agencies with regard to the development, maintenance, and enhancement of the river and its resources.
(4)Protect the parks, open space, and other public places adjacent to the Los Angeles River.
(5)Engage communities along the Los Angeles River in the protection and preservation of the Los Angeles River and its resources.
(6)Promote equal access and equity among all communities along the Los Angeles River with regard to the development and placement of improvements along the river.
(7)Monitor the physical conditions, environmental health, and development of green space along the Los Angeles River.
(8)Provide a system for coordinating the work of river rangers with programs and services offered by local governments and conservation corps.
(9)Incorporate the findings and principles expressed in the Presidential Memorandum--Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters, dated January 12, 2017.
(c)No later than June 30, 2018, the conservancies shall submit a copy of the plan required to be prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) to the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(d)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed.
The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a)Since the 1940s, the County of Los Angeles has managed the Los Angeles River as a concrete flood channel. The communities through which the river passes have had limited contact with or responsibility for the river.
(b)In the last several decades, the Los Angeles River has received greater public attention and support for its restoration and availability as an environmental and recreational resource for the communities through which the river passes, and Congress recently approved a restoration plan for an 11-mile segment of the river near Dodger Stadium in the City of Los Angeles. The Legislature has appropriated funds to pay some of the costs of the Los Angeles River restoration, including an amount of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), which has been authorized under a recently enacted bond measure to benefit the river.
(c)Some communities have parks along the Los Angeles River, and bicyclists traverse the bike paths on the rivers levees every day. The City of South Gate has shifted its policy to direct community attention to the benefits of the Los Angeles River.
(d)The Lower Los Angeles River Working Group is currently developing a plan for revitalizing the river downstream from the City of Los Angeles, and is considering ways to encourage communities to engage with the river and make the river a welcoming place for the communities through which it passes. The working group has also considered the possibility of placing river rangers, similar to National Park Service Rangers, to increase public safety and provide resource interpretation services for visitors to the river.
SEC. 2.(a)For purposes of this section, conservancies means the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
(b)The conservancies shall collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who provide assistance to the public at sites along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries. The conservancies shall solicit the participation of representatives of local governments that have jurisdiction over segments of the river, including the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles. The conservancies, in cooperation with the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group, no later than June 30, 2018, shall prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the program, including recommendations regarding ways to finance the establishment and ongoing implementation of the program, and shall ensure that the plan is developed to accomplish all of the following objectives:
(1)Establish an identity for the Los Angeles River as a place for its communities to enjoy recreational opportunities and learn about the rivers history and environmental resources.
(2)Improve public safety for visitors to the Los Angeles River.
(3)Foster collaboration among state and local government entities and other public agencies with jurisdiction over the Los Angeles River, and coordinate the work of these entities and public agencies with regard to the development, maintenance, and enhancement of the river and its resources.
(4)Protect the parks, open space, and other public places adjacent to the Los Angeles River.
(5)Engage communities along the Los Angeles River in the protection and preservation of the Los Angeles River and its resources.
(6)Promote equal access and equity among all communities along the Los Angeles River with regard to the development and placement of improvements along the river.
(7)Monitor the physical conditions, environmental health, and development of green space along the Los Angeles River.
(8)Provide a system for coordinating the work of river rangers with programs and services offered by local governments and conservation corps.
(9)Incorporate the findings and principles expressed in the Presidential Memorandum--Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters, dated January 12, 2017.
(c)No later than June 30, 2018, the conservancies shall submit a copy of the plan required to be prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) to the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(d)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed.
SECTION 1.The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(a)For 15 years, the State of California has pursued a policy of integrated regional water management encouraging water agencies in each region to collaborate in setting regional priorities for water management and infrastructure projects. The state also has promoted watershed management to address the connections among water challenges in each watershed, from top to bottom.(b)In the last decade, water supply and water quality issues have converged. Stormwater quality and management now addresses how to capture rainwater and stormwater to reduce stormwater flows and pollution and to increase water supply. The recent drought led to groundwater resource depletion and concentration of groundwater contaminants. Groundwater contamination had caused some communities to shut down their groundwater wells and lose a primary drinking water supply. Flood management now focuses on diverting flood flows upstream in the watershed to reduce downstream flooding as well as to recharge groundwater aquifers.(c)In upstream areas as well as in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, riverine habitat needs have led to restoration of wetlands and riparian habitat corridors.(d)For many decades in urban areas, many rivers and streams were used only as release valves for moving stormwater runoff out to sea. More recently, however, river management has focused increasingly on how rivers serve the communities through which they flow for many purposes, including, but not limited to, stormwater runoff, riparian and wetland habitat, open space and parks, active transportation corridors such as bicycling, and water supply management such as stormwater capture and groundwater recharge.(e)River neighbors have started to recognize the opportunities to connect to the rivers resources in numerous ways.SEC. 2.Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 550) is added to Division 1 of the Water Code, to read:10.Urban River Restoration Program550.(a)The board and the department, in collaboration, shall establish a program to support urban communities in restoring their rivers for multiple benefits. An eligible urban community shall demonstrate that it has incorporated the interests, local governments, and perspectives of the entire watershed into its planning effort.(b)Benefits that the board and the department shall consider include, but are not limited to, stormwater management, parks, recreation, habitat, water supply, and water quality.(c)A river restoration planning effort shall incorporate the findings and principles in the Presidential MemorandumPromoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters, dated January 12, 2017.(d)If the County of Los Angeles submits a proposal for a project for urban river restoration in the watershed of the Los Angeles River, the board and the department shall consider the proposal as a pilot project. The County of Los Angeles shall demonstrate that it has engaged all communities throughout the Los Angeles River watershed, including underserved communities lacking sufficient access to parks and open space, in the planning of the urban river restoration.The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a)For 15 years, the State of California has pursued a policy of integrated regional water management encouraging water agencies in each region to collaborate in setting regional priorities for water management and infrastructure projects. The state also has promoted watershed management to address the connections among water challenges in each watershed, from top to bottom.
(b)In the last decade, water supply and water quality issues have converged. Stormwater quality and management now addresses how to capture rainwater and stormwater to reduce stormwater flows and pollution and to increase water supply. The recent drought led to groundwater resource depletion and concentration of groundwater contaminants. Groundwater contamination had caused some communities to shut down their groundwater wells and lose a primary drinking water supply. Flood management now focuses on diverting flood flows upstream in the watershed to reduce downstream flooding as well as to recharge groundwater aquifers.
(c)In upstream areas as well as in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, riverine habitat needs have led to restoration of wetlands and riparian habitat corridors.
(d)For many decades in urban areas, many rivers and streams were used only as release valves for moving stormwater runoff out to sea. More recently, however, river management has focused increasingly on how rivers serve the communities through which they flow for many purposes, including, but not limited to, stormwater runoff, riparian and wetland habitat, open space and parks, active transportation corridors such as bicycling, and water supply management such as stormwater capture and groundwater recharge.
(e)River neighbors have started to recognize the opportunities to connect to the rivers resources in numerous ways.
SEC. 2.Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 550) is added to Division 1 of the Water Code, to read:10.Urban River Restoration Program550.(a)The board and the department, in collaboration, shall establish a program to support urban communities in restoring their rivers for multiple benefits. An eligible urban community shall demonstrate that it has incorporated the interests, local governments, and perspectives of the entire watershed into its planning effort.
(b)Benefits that the board and the department shall consider include, but are not limited to, stormwater management, parks, recreation, habitat, water supply, and water quality.
(c)A river restoration planning effort shall incorporate the findings and principles in the Presidential MemorandumPromoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters, dated January 12, 2017.
(d)If the County of Los Angeles submits a proposal for a project for urban river restoration in the watershed of the Los Angeles River, the board and the department shall consider the proposal as a pilot project. The County of Los Angeles shall demonstrate that it has engaged all communities throughout the Los Angeles River watershed, including underserved communities lacking sufficient access to parks and open space, in the planning of the urban river restoration.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2017 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 452, Statutes of 2017. |
| Oct 3, 2017 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep 20, 2017 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m. |
| Sep 11, 2017 | In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Sep 11, 2017 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Sep 5, 2017 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Sep 1, 2017 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (September 1). |
| Jul 10, 2017 | In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Jun 27, 2017 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (June 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 14, 2017 | Referred to Com. on N.R. & W. |
| Jun 1, 2017 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| May 31, 2017 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 17. Page 1932.) |
| May 30, 2017 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 26, 2017 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 5.) (May 26). |
| May 10, 2017 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 26, 2017 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 5.) (April 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Mar 29, 2017 | Re-referred to Com. on W.,P., & W. |
| Mar 28, 2017 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W.,P., & W. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 16, 2017 | Referred to Com. on W.,P., & W. |
| Feb 19, 2017 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 21. |
| Feb 17, 2017 | Read first time. To print. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2017 | Assembly 3rd Reading AB1558 Cristina Garcia By Allen | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Sep 1, 2017 | Do pass | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jul 10, 2017 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jun 27, 2017 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water |
Passed |
|
| May 31, 2017 | AB 1558 GARCIA, C. Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 26, 2017 | Do pass. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 25, 2017 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| California Outdoor Recreation Partners | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| California Park and Recreation Society | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| City Of Bell | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| city of cudahy | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| City of Huntington Park | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| city of lynwood | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| city of south gate | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| Conservation Corps of Long Beach | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| conservation crops of long beach | ** Support | Jun 22, 2017 |
| councilmember jorge morales, city of south gate | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| councilmember pedro aceituno, city of bell gardens | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| East Bay Regional Park District | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| Friends of the Los Angeles River | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| from lot to spot, inc. | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| Latino Outdoors | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| Mountains Recreation And Conservation Authority | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| Mujeres de la Tierra | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| Prevention Institute | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| River La | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy | * Support | Apr 25, 2017 |
| Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy | * Support | Apr 25, 2017 |
| Southeast Los Angeles Schools L.A. River Clean-Up | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| State Park Partners Coalition | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| The Trust For Public Land | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| trails4all | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
| Watershed Conservation Authority | ** Support | Sep 4, 2017 |
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1558
:
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 6-2, 6/27/17
AYES: Hertzberg, Allen, Atkins, Hueso, Jackson, Stern
NOES: Stone, Vidak
NO VOTE RECORDED: Monning
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 5-2, 9/1/17
AYES: Lara, Beall, Bradford, Hill, Wiener
NOES: Bates, Nielsen
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 57-17, 5/31/17 - See last page for vote
DIGEST:
This bill requires the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the San Gabriel and Lower Low Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers to assist the public at sites along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries, as prescribed.
Existing law:
- Establishes the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) and the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) in the Natural Resources Agency.
- Among other things, both the SMMC and RMC are charged with duties of conservation with regard to the protection, preservation, and development of certain lands within their jurisdiction including along the Los Angeles River (LA River).
- Establishes the Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Lands Commission and the California Conservation Corps in the Natural Resources Agency.
- Establishes the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group (Working Group) composed of numerous stakeholders to develop revitalization plans for the River south of the City of Los Angeles.
This bill:
- Requires the SMMC and the RMC to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who assist the public at sites along the LA River and its tributaries, as prescribed.
- No later than June 30, 2018, the two state conservancies, in cooperation with the Working Group, are required to prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the river ranger program.
- The plan shall include recommendations regarding ways to finance the establishment and ongoing operation of the river ranger program, and shall improve public safety, provide for monitoring of the LA River, promote coordination among stakeholders to preserve and protect the LA River, provide a system to coordinate the work of river rangers and other programs, and ensure equal access and equity among all LA River communities, among other things.
- The SMMC and RMC are required to submit a copy of the plan to the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee by the same date.
- No later than June 30, 2018, the two state conservancies, in cooperation with the Working Group, are required to prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the river ranger program.
- Sunsets all provisions on January 1, 2019.
Background
The LA River forms from its headwaters in the western San Fernando Valley and flows easterly across the Valley through Griffith Park where the river turns to the south, and passes through downtown Los Angeles and additional downstream cities en route to its estuary in Long Beach. The LA River is entirely within the County of Los Angeles (County), and its first 32 miles are within the City of Los Angeles.
In the early 1990s, community activism over turning a railyard adjacent to the LA River into open space coincided with the County beginning a process that – after considerable input from stakeholders and community outreach – resulted in the County’s Los Angeles River Master Plan (Master Plan) in 1996. The Master Plan described how economic growth could be spurred along the LA River in the County through zoning changes and the development of open space, recreational, cultural, artistic, educational, and other opportunities. Ultimately over several decades, the LA River will be returned to a less-polluted, functioning riparian environment in as many reaches as possible, while still controlling flooding and providing recreational opportunities. In October 2016, the County’s Board of Supervisors voted to begin the process to revisit and update the Master Plan.
The City of Los Angeles’ Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan (Revitalization Master Plan) was released in 2007. Continuing the long-term goals of the County Master Plan, the Revitalization Master Plan also promoted the revitalization of the LA River as a multi-benefit solution to addressing and enhancing water quality and flood control while enabling safe access to the River and restoring a functional river ecosystem. The City’s Revitalization Master Plan focused on portions of the LA River in its jurisdiction.
Both plans contain a list of LA River projects to be completed and seek to re-focus the surrounding neighborhoods on the River to help form a sense of identity, improve the quality of life and boost civic pride. Since the Master Plan and Revitalization Master Plan were developed, numerous LA River restoration efforts including the creation of habitat, pocket parks and bikeways have been undertaken, as well as guidelines established for signage and other features.
Both the SMMC and RMC are active in LA River projects. Additional federal, state and local public and private stakeholders are also active in the revitalization of the LA River. For example, the Working Group continues to meet monthly and has held or participated in numerous activities to promote awareness of the LA River and develop its plans.
One idea raised through the Working Group process is to establish a “river rangers” program as part of a multi-team effort to provide maintenance, outreach and interpretation along the LA River and the San Gabriel River/Rio Hondo. Models for the river rangers program include similar programs established by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and the Conejo Recreation and Park District to provide for non-park ranger personnel to promote the protection and utilization of their park resources and engage with the public while also performing some maintenance and other activities. (The Conejo Recreation and Park District and the SMMC are two of the three members of the MRCA.) MRCA personnel can provide this “ambassador” service along the LA River in the jurisdiction of the SMMC.
Comments
The State Lands Commission has limited jurisdiction over the LA River. The State Lands Commission’s jurisdiction over the LA River is limited to the Long Beach estuary of the LA River.
Related/Prior Legislation
AB 466 (Bocanegra, 2017) establishes a Los Angeles River Tributaries and Watershed Working Group, with specified responsibilities. (The bill is pending on the Senate Floor.)
AB 2534 (Nazarian, 2016) would have established the Los Angeles River San Fernando Valley Regional Access and Economic Sustainability Working Group with specified responsibilities. The bill was held on the suspense file by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
AB 530 (Rendon, Chapter 684, Statutes of 2015) established the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group composed of numerous stakeholders to develop revitalization plans for the LA River south of the City of Los Angeles.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
- Unknown, likely in the low- to mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars (Environmental License Plate Fund or other special fund) for the conservancies to develop the required plan and implement the program.
- Minor costs for the State Lands Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, and California Conservation Corps to participate in plan development and program implementation.
California Outdoor Recreation Partners
California Park and Recreation Society
City of Bell
City of Cudahy
City of Huntington Park
City of Lynwood
City of South Gate
Conservation Corps of Long Beach
Councilmember Al Austin II, 8th District, City of Long Beach
Councilmember Jorge Morales, City of South Gate
Councilmember Pedro Aceituno, City of Bell Gardens
East Bay Regional Park District
Friends of the Los Angeles River
From Lot to Spot, Inc.
Latino Outdoors
Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Mujeres de la Tierra
Prevention Institute
River LA
Southeast Los Angeles Schools L.A. River Clean-up
State Park Partners Coalition
The Trust for Public Land
Trails4All
Urban Semillas
Watershed Conservation Authority
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, “[f]or more than 25 years, the Los Angeles River and other tributaries have received attention for the possibilities of its restoration and use as an environmental and park resource for the communities through which it flows. Last year, Congress and the President authorized restoration of an 11-mile segment of the Upper River in the City of Los Angeles. A Lower [Los Angeles] River Working Group also began developing a revitalization plan for the Lower River and its tributaries to allow its communities to enjoy the benefits of that restoration. Restoration includes greater public use of the river and its adjacent public spaces.
“Los Angeles River restoration will increase community use of the river, requiring the resources to support those uses. River Rangers could enhance the public’s understanding of the River’s resources, increase public safety, and help the many cities along the River to collaborate in its restoration. I’ve used the Los Angeles River and tributaries like the Rio Hondo to ride my bike or run since I was a kid. And there has always been a very visible inconsistency in regards to investment amongst the multiple communities that exist along the river. Tributaries like the Rio Hondo are often overlooked and not included in organized efforts centered on the Los Angeles River. A unified River Ranger program can create the needed cohesion among those communities, the Upper River and the Lower River and its tributaries.”
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 57-17, 5/31/17
AYES: Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Daly, Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gomez, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon
NOES: Travis Allen, Bigelow, Brough, Chávez, Cunningham, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Harper, Kiley, Lackey, Mathis, Mayes, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel
NO VOTE RECORDED: Acosta, Chen, Choi, Eggman, Frazier, Melendez
9/4/17 12:53:37
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2017 - 2018 Regular Session
AB 1558 (Cristina Garcia) - Los Angeles River: river ranger program
Version: March 28, 2017 | Policy Vote: N.R. & W. 6 - 2 |
Urgency: No | Mandate: No |
Hearing Date: July 10, 2017 | Consultant: Narisha Bonakdar |
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary:
AB 1558 requires the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) and the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles (LA) Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) (collectively “conservancies”) to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the California Conservation Corps (CCC), and the State Lands Commission (SLC) to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who assist the public along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries.
Fiscal Impact:
- Unknown, likely in the low- to mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars (Environmental License Plate Fund or other special fund) for the conservancies to develop the required plan and implement the program.
- Minor costs for SLC, DPR, and CCC to participate in plan development and program implementation.
Background:
The Los Angeles River (River). The River forms from its headwaters in the western San Fernando Valley and flows easterly across the Valley through Griffith Park where the river turns to the south, and passes through downtown Los Angeles and additional downstream cities en route to its estuary in Long Beach. The River is entirely within the County of Los Angeles (County), and its first 32 miles are within the City of Los Angeles.
The areas surrounding the River are widely considered to have relatively few open space and park areas. Historical development along the River in many instances served to isolate the River from the surrounding communities.
Plans for the River: the LA River Master Plan (Master Plan) and the LA River Revitalization Plan (Revitalization Plan). The county’s Master Plan (1996) touts zoning changes and the development of open space, recreational, cultural, artistic, educational and other opportunities along the river as the key to economic development necessary to achieve a healthier river. The City’s Revitalization Plan (released in 2007) maintained the county’s long-term goals, but also promoted the revitalization of the River as a multi-benefit solution to addressing and enhancing water quality and flood control while enabling safe access to the River and restoring a functional river ecosystem. The City’s Revitalization Plan focused on portions of the River in its jurisdiction.
Both plans contain a list of projects to be completed and seek to re-focus the surrounding neighborhoods on the River to help form a sense of identity, improve the quality of life and boost civic pride. Numerous restoration efforts have begun since the plans were released, most notably the more than $1 billion restoration of 11 miles of River between Griffith Park and Downtown, known as "Alternative 20” (its name in the Army Corp of Engineers 2014 study “Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Feasibility Report” that proposed the project).
The Conservancies. The SMMC and the RMC are two of ten conservancies established in the Natural Resources Agency. Among other duties, these conservancies restore, preserve, and protect open space and habitat. The RMC covers eastern Los Angeles County and western Orange County, and is governed by a 13-member board. The SMMC is governed by a 18-member board, and in communities surrounding the Santa Monica Mountains.
Confluence River Rangers. In 2015, AB 530 (Rendon, Chapter 684, Statutes of 2015) established the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group (Working Group) to develop revitalization plans for the River south of the City of Los Angeles. The river rangers program idea came from working group. Members envisioned it as part of a multi-team effort to provide maintenance, outreach, and interpretation along the River and the San Gabriel River/Rio Hondo similar to other models throughout the state.
Proposed Law:
This bill requires the SMMC and the RMC to:
- Collaborate with the DPR, CCC, and SLC to develop a program to provide a network of river rangers who assist the public along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries.
- In cooperation with the Working Group, prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the river ranger program and submit it to the Legislature (specifically the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water and the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife) by June 30, 2018.
- Sunset all provisions on January 1, 2019.
Related Legislation:
- AB 530 (Rendon, Chapter 684, Statutes of 2015) created the Working Group that developed the river ranger program concept.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
Senator Robert Hertzberg, Chair
2017 - 2018 Regular
Bill No: AB Hearing Date: June 27, 2017
Author: | Cristina Garcia | ||
Version: | March 28, 2017 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | Katharine Moore | ||
Subject: Los Angeles River: river ranger program
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
- The Los Angeles River (River) forms from its headwaters in the western San Fernando Valley and flows easterly across the Valley through Griffith Park where the river turns to the south, and passes through downtown Los Angeles and additional downstream cities en route to its estuary in Long Beach. The River is entirely within the County of Los Angeles (County), and its first 32 miles are within the City of Los Angeles.
- The areas surrounding the River are widely considered to have relatively few open space and park areas. Historical development along the River in many instances served to isolate the River from the surrounding communities.
- In the early 1990s, community activism over turning a railyard adjacent to the River into open space coincided with the County beginning a process that – after considerable input from stakeholders and community outreach – resulted in the County’s Los Angeles River Master Plan (Master Plan) in 1996. The Master Plan described how economic growth could be spurred along the River in the County through zoning changes and the development of open space, recreational, cultural, artistic, educational and other opportunities. Ultimately over several decades, the River will be returned to a less-polluted, functioning riparian environment in as many reaches as possible, while still controlling flooding and providing recreational opportunities.
- The City of Los Angeles’ Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan (Revitalization Master Plan) was released in 2007. Continuing the long-term goals of the County Master Plan, the Revitalization Master Plan also promoted the revitalization of the River as a multi-benefit solution to addressing and enhancing water quality and flood control while enabling safe access to the River and restoring a functional river ecosystem. The City’s Revitalization Master Plan focused on portions of the River in its jurisdiction.
- Both plans contain a list of River projects to be completed and seek to re-focus the surrounding neighborhoods on the River to help form a sense of identity, improve the quality of life and boost civic pride. Since the Master Plan and Revitalization Master Plan were developed, numerous River restoration efforts including the creation of habitat, pocket parks and bikeways have been undertaken, as well as guidelines established for signage and other features.
- The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy are established in the Natural Resources Agency. Among other things, both of these conservancies are charged with duties of conservation with regard to the protection, preservation, and development of certain lands along the San Gabriel River, the (Los Angeles) River, and surrounding areas. Both conservancies are active in River projects.
- In 2014 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended that the most extensive restoration alternative provided by its Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Report be undertaken at an estimated cost of over $1 billion. The area to be restored focuses on the 11 mile soft-bottomed stretch of the River from roughly Griffith Park to downtown called the ARBOR reach. There are also additional federal efforts underway to coordinate revitalization efforts along the River.
- In 2015, AB 530 (Rendon, c. 684, Statutes of 2015) established the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group (Working Group) composed of numerous stakeholders to develop revitalization plans for the River south of the City of Los Angeles. The Working Group continues to meet monthly and has held or participated in numerous activities to promote awareness of the River and develop its plans.
- One idea raised through the Working Group process is to establish a “river rangers” program as part of a multi-team effort to provide maintenance, outreach and interpretation along the River and the San Gabriel River/Rio Hondo. Models for the river rangers program include similar programs established by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and the Conejo Recreation and Park District to provide for non-park ranger personnel to promote the protection and utilization of their park resources and engage with the public while also performing some maintenance and other activities. (The Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy are two of the three members of the MRCA.) MRCA personnel can provide this “ambassador” service along the River in the jurisdiction of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would require the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the San Gabriel and Lower Low Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Conservation Corps, and the State Lands Commission to develop a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers who assist the public at sites along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries, as prescribed. In addition the bill would:
- Require, no later than June 30, 2018, that the two state conservancies, in cooperation with the Working Group, prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the river ranger program.
- The plan shall include recommendations regarding ways to finance the establishment and ongoing operation of the program, and shall improve public safety, provide for monitoring of the River, promote coordination among stakeholders to preserve and protect the River, provide a system to coordinate the work of river rangers and other programs, and ensure equal access and equity among all River communities, among other things.
- Require the two conservancies to submit a copy of the plan to the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and the Senate Natural Resources and Water committee by the same date.
- Sunset all provisions on January 1, 2019.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, “[f]or more than 25 years, the Los Angeles River and other tributaries have received attention for the possibilities of its restoration and use as an environmental and park resource for the communities through which it flows. Last year, Congress and the President authorized restoration of an 11-mile segment of the Upper River in the City of Los Angeles. A Lower [Los Angeles] River Working Group also began developing a revitalization plan for the Lower River and its tributaries to allow its communities to enjoy the benefits of that restoration. Restoration includes greater public use of the river and its adjacent public spaces.”
“Los Angeles River restoration will increase community use of the river, requiring the resources to support those uses. River Rangers could enhance the public’s understanding of the River’s resources, increase public safety, and help the many cities along the River to collaborate in its restoration. I’ve used the Los Angeles River and tributaries like the Rio Hondo to ride my bike or run since I was a kid. And there has always been a very visible inconsistency in regards to investment amongst the multiple communities that exist along the river. Tributaries like the Rio Hondo are often overlooked and not included in organized efforts centered on the Los Angeles River. A unified River Ranger program can create the needed cohesion among those communities, the Upper River and the Lower River and its tributaries.”
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received
COMMENTS
The State Lands Commission has limited jurisdiction over the River. The State Lands Commission’s jurisdiction over the River is limited to the Long Beach estuary of the River.
The Master Plan is in the process of being updated. In October 2016, the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County recently voted to begin the process that will revisit and update. The Working Group’s plan is also intended to be incorporated into the update.
Recent related legislation
AB 466 (Bocanegra, 2017) would establish a Los Angeles River Tributaries and Watershed Working Group, with specified responsibilities. (This bill is pending before the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.)
AB 2534 (Nazarian, 2016) would have established the Los Angeles River San Fernando Valley Regional Access and Economic Sustainability Working Group with specified responsibilities. (This bill was held on the suspense file by the Senate Appropriations Committee.)
AB 530 (Rendon, c. 684, Statutes of 2015) established the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group composed of numerous stakeholders to develop revitalization plans for the River south of the City of Los Angeles.
SUPPORT
California Outdoor Recreation Partners
California Park and Recreation Society
City of Bell
City of Bell Gardens
City of Cudahy
City of Huntington Park
City of Lynwood
City of South Gate
Conservation Crops of Long Beach
Councilmember Al Austin II, (8th district) City of Long Beach
Councilmember Jorge Morales, City of South Gate
Councilmember Pedro Aceituno, City of Bell Gardens
East Bay Regional Park District
Friends of the Los Angeles River
From Lot to Spot, Inc.
Latino Outdoors
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Mujeres de la Tierra
Prevention Institute
River LA
Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Schools L.A. River Clean-up
State Park Partners Coalition
The Trust for Public Land
Trails4All
Urban Semillas
Watershed Conservation Authority
OPPOSITION
None received
-- END --
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 1558
Author:(Cristina Garcia)
As Amended Ver:
Majority vote
Committee | Votes | Ayes | Noes |
Water | 10-5 | Eduardo Garcia, Chu, Friedman, Gloria, Bocanegra, Levine, Rubio, Salas, Thurmond, Wood | Gallagher, Bigelow, Choi, Harper, Mathis |
Appropriations | 12-5 | Gonzalez Fletcher, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonta, Calderon, McCarty, Quirk, Friedman, Eduardo Garcia, Gray, Muratsuchi, Reyes | Bigelow, Brough, Fong, Gallagher, Obernolte |
SUBJECT: Los Angeles River: river ranger program
SUMMARY: Establishes a process for state and local agencies with jurisdiction over the Los Angeles River (LA River) to collaborate in creating a river ranger program with specified objectives. Specifically, this bill:
- Requires the following state entities to participate in the development of a program with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) and San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), (collectively, "the conservancies"), in the development of a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers along the LA River:
- California Department of Parks and Recreation;
- California Conservation Corps;
- State Lands Commission;
- Local governments that have jurisdiction over segments of the river, including the City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles.
- Requires the conservancies, in cooperation with the Lower LA River Working Group to, no later than June 30, 2018, prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the river ranger program including financing and implementation.
- The plan is required to be developed to accomplish all of the following:
- Establish an identity for the LA River as a place for its communities to enjoy recreational opportunities and learn about the river's history and environmental resources.
- Improve public safety for visitors to the LA River, and provide a system for coordinating the work of river rangers with other local and state government entities.
- Foster collaboration among interests and jurisdictions, and engage communities along the river.
- Protect the parks, open space, and other public places adjacent to the LA River.
- Promote and provide equal access and equity with regard to the development and placement of improvements along the river.
- The plan is required to be submitted, no later than June 30, 2018, to the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife, and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water.
EXISTING LAW:
- Designates the LA River as a traditional navigable waterway protected under the federal Clean Water Act.
- Establishes the RMC in the Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), as a state agency with the following purposes:
- To acquire and manage public lands within the Lower LA River and San Gabriel River watersheds, and to provide open space, low-impact recreational and educational uses, water conservation, watershed improvement, wildlife and habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvement within the territory.
- To preserve the San Gabriel River and the Lower LA River consistent with existing and adopted river and flood control projects for the protection of life and property.
- To acquire open-space lands within the territory of the conservancy.
- To provide for the public's enjoyment and enhancement of recreational and educational experiences on public lands in the San Gabriel Watershed and Lower LA River, and the San Gabriel Mountains in a manner consistent with the protection of lands and resources in those watersheds.
- Establishes the SMMC in the CNRA, as a state agency to protect the natural resources of, and promote recreational opportunities in, the Santa Monica Mountains. The Conservancy is authorized to acquire land from willing sellers, and to provide grants to local governments and non-profit organizations for planning, acquisition, improvement, and operation of wildlife habitat and recreation resources within the Santa Monica Mountains Zone.
- Establishes the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) that operates and maintains the state park system and is responsible for administering, protecting, developing and providing visitor interpretation and other services for the use and enjoyment of the public. The system currently has 279 state parks. The DPR also has law enforcement responsibility at state parks.
- Establishes both the State Lands Commission and California Conservation Corps within the CNRA.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- According to the RMC, its cost of preparing the plan will be $500,000 (ELPF or other special fund.)
- Minor costs for SMMC, DPR and CCC to participate in the development of the plan.
COMMENTS: This bill would require the development of a Los Angeles (LA) River Ranger Program, across multiple jurisdictions, for the purpose of preserving and protecting the river, and those who access the river.
Los Angeles River – Background. In the late 1700s when the Spanish founded the pueblo that became Los Angeles, the LA River supported diverse flora and fauna and much of what is now southern and western Los Angeles was marsh. The Spanish followed the example of the Native Americans and settled near the river to use its flow to supply drinking and irrigation water. As Los Angeles grew and prospered, settlements and farming continued to encroach upon the river's floodplain, while also depending upon it for water. As time progressed, booming development along the river as well as increasing urbanization provided for larger and larger impacts from river flooding. Between 1850 and 1900, there were 11 major flood events along the river. The devastating flooding in 1914 led to the passage of the Los Angeles Flood Control District (LAFCD) Act the next year (SB 459 (Benedict), Chapter 755, Statutes of 1915). More serious flooding in the 1930s forced the LAFCD to ask for federal help. In 1936, Congress directed the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to "channelize" the river to help control flooding. Channelization by concrete started in 1938 and was completed in 1960. The river is now straighter and deeper in many locations, moving high volumes of flood water rapidly downstream to San Pedro Harbor. The Flood Control District and the Corps share the responsibility for the operation and management of these flood control and water conservation facilities.
Today the river begins in Canoga Park at the confluence of Bell Creek and the Arroyo Calabasas. It flows mostly east through the San Fernando Valley, where numerous tributaries join, to Burbank and Griffith Park. The river flows through 13 cities in total and is contained within the County of Los Angeles. It is now almost entirely lined in concrete, although there are three "soft-bottomed" sections in the Sepulveda Basin (San Fernando Valley), Griffith Park and in Long Beach. Particularly along the Lower LA River, industrial activity and railyards are immediately adjacent to the river and can effectively isolate it from the surrounding communities.
Although planners had envisioned greenbelts interconnecting parklands along the river as early as the 1930s, the more recent interest in the revitalization and promotion of the re-integration of the river and its tributaries into the adjacent neighborhoods began in the mid-to-late 1980s. There was growing recognition that compared to other large American cities Los Angeles has relatively fewer parks, particularly in under-represented communities. In the early 1990s, community activism over turning a railyard adjacent to the river (the Taylor Yards) into open space coincided with the County of Los Angeles beginning a process that, after considerable input from stakeholders and community outreach, resulted in the County's Los Angeles River Master Plan (County Master Plan) in 1996.
The Master Plan described how economic growth could be spurred along the river in the county through zoning changes and the development of open space, recreational, cultural, artistic, educational, and other opportunities. This river revitalization aimed to "achieve a better river environment for future generations in the Los Angeles basin." The Los Angeles City Council established its own ad hoc committee on the river in 2002 and the City's Master Plan was released in 2007. Continuing the long-term goals of the County Master Plan, the City Master Plan also promoted the revitalization of the river as a multi-benefit solution to addressing and enhancing water quality and flood control while enabling safe access to the river and restoring a functional river ecosystem.
In 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced that its designation of the LA River as a "traditional navigable waterway," protected under the Clean Water Act, would ensure the vitality of the river. The LA River was also identified in 2010 as a priority by the Obama administration under the America's Great Outdoors initiative and is now one of seven pilot cities for the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. Then, in May 2014, the Army Corps backed the $1 billion alternative in the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Study, a plan to restore an 11-mile stretch of the LA River from Griffith Park to downtown Los Angeles.
Multiple Jurisdictions LA River Watershed – Patrolling the River. The author points out that the governance of the LA River's entire watershed is complex. Many small cities have jurisdiction over the LA River and its tributaries. The Lower LA River includes the cities of Vernon, Commerce, Maywood, Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, South Gate, Lynwood, Compton, Paramount, Carson, and Long Beach. The upper watershed includes several tributaries including the Tijunga, Poicoma, and Rio Honda, passing through a number of cities from the Santa Monica Mountains to downtown Los Angeles. Each of these cities individually has jurisdiction over their portion of the LA River for law enforcement.
The LA River crosses several state agency jurisdictions, mainly the SMMC and RMC. The SMMC currently has authority to provide ranger services along its jurisdiction whereas within the RMC, there is not a ranger program available, except as provided by the multiple cities. According to the author, this bill would draw together all of the jurisdictions to create a unified river ranger program. The idea is not necessarily to extend the SMMC ranger program but to work with the lower LA River communities and the City of LA to determine what a ranger program should be. River rangers could do more than law enforcement, as is the case in the state and national park system, including:
- Monitor conditions on the river;
- Protect people who use the river's public spaces;
- Engage the communities along the river in the protection/conservation of the river's resources.
Related Legislation.
AB 466 (Bocanegra) of the current legislative session, creates a working group focused on the upper watershed tributaries of the Los Angeles River, including the Tijunga and Poicoma washes.
AB 530 (Rendon), Chapter 684, Statutes of 2015, created the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group that developed the idea of a river ranger program for the entire LA River.
AB 1471 (Rendon), Chapter 188, Statutes of 2014, placed Proposition 1 on the November 2014 ballot. Proposition 1 was a successful $7.545 billion dollar general obligation bond for water-related projects and programs. Proposition 1 includes, among other provisions, $30 million each for the SMMC and the RMC as well as $100 million for urban creeks and streams.
SB 1201 (De León), Chapter 212, Statutes of 2012 provided for public use of the LA River by adding education and recreational purposes to the LA County Flood Control Act where those uses were not inconsistent with flood control and water conservation.
Analysis Prepared by: Catherine Freeman / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0000576
Date of Hearing: April 25, 2017
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE
Eduardo Garcia, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1558 (
Author:Cristina Garcia) – As Amended Ver:March 28, 2017
SUBJECT: Los Angeles River: river ranger program
SUMMARY: Establishes a process for state and local agencies with jurisdiction over the Los Angeles River (LA River) to collaborate in creating a river ranger program with specified objectives. Specifically, this bill:
- Requires the following state entities to participate in the development of a program with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) and San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), (collectively, “the conservancies”), in the development of a river ranger program to provide a network of river rangers along the LA River:
- California Department of Parks and Recreation;
- California Conservation Corps;
- State Lands Commission;
- Local governments that have jurisdiction over segments of the river, including the City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles.
- Requires the conservancies, in cooperation with the Lower LA River Working Group to, no later than June 30, 2018, prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the river ranger program including financing and implementation.
- The plan is required to be developed to accomplish all of the following:
- Establish an identity for the LA River as a place for its communities to enjoy recreational opportunities and learn about the river’s history and environmental resources.
- Improve public safety for visitors to the LA River, and provide a system for coordinating the work of river rangers with other local and state government entities.
- Foster collaboration among interests and jurisdictions, and engage communities along the river.
- Protect the parks, open space, and other public places adjacent to the LA River.
- Promote and provide equal access and equity with regard to the development and placement of improvements along the river.
- The plan is required to be submitted, no later than June 30, 2018, to the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife, and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water.
EXISTING LAW:
- Designates the LA River as a traditional navigable waterway protected under the federal Clean Water Act.
- Establishes the RMC in the Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), as a state agency with the following purposes:
- To acquire and manage public lands within the Lower LA River and San Gabriel River watersheds, and to provide open space, low-impact recreational and educational uses, water conservation, watershed improvement, wildlife and habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvement within the territory.
- To preserve the San Gabriel River and the Lower LA River consistent with existing and adopted river and flood control projects for the protection of life and property.
- To acquire open-space lands within the territory of the conservancy.
- To provide for the public’s enjoyment and enhancement of recreational and educational experiences on public lands in the San Gabriel Watershed and Lower LA River, and the San Gabriel Mountains in a manner consistent with the protection of lands and resources in those watersheds.
- Establishes the SMMC in the CNRA, as a state agency to protect the natural resources of, and promote recreational opportunities in, the Santa Monica Mountains. The Conservancy is authorized to acquire land from willing sellers, and to provide grants to local governments and non-profit organizations for planning, acquisition, improvement, and operation of wildlife habitat and recreation resources within the Santa Monica Mountains Zone.
- Establishes the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) that operates and maintains the state park system and is responsible for administering, protecting, developing and providing visitor interpretation and other services for the use and enjoyment of the public. The system currently has 279 state parks. The DPR also has law enforcement responsibility at state parks.
- Establishes both the State Lands Commission and California Conservation Corps within the CNRA.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill is keyed fiscal.
COMMENTS: This bill would require the development of a Los Angeles (LA) River Ranger Program, across multiple jurisdictions, for the purpose of preserving and protecting the river, and those who access the river.
Author’s Statement:
For more than 25 years, the Los Angeles River and other tributaries have received attention for the possibilities of its restoration and use as an environmental and park resource for the communities through which it flows. Last year, Congress and the President authorized restoration of an 11-mile segment of the Upper River in the City of Los Angeles. A Lower LA River Working Group also began developing a revitalization plan for the Lower River and its tributaries to allow its communities to enjoy the benefits of that restoration. Restoration includes greater public use of the river and its adjacent public spaces.
Los Angeles River restoration will increase community use of the river, requiring the resources to support those uses. River Rangers could enhance the public’s understanding of the river’s resources, increase public safety, and help the many cities along the river to collaborate in its restoration. I’ve used the Los Angeles river and tributaries like the Rio Hondo to ride my bike or run since I was a kid. And there has always been a very visible inconsistency in regards to investment amongst the multiple communities that exist along the river. Tributaries like the Rio Hondo are often over looked and not included in organized efforts centered on the Los Angeles River. A unified River Ranger program can create the needed cohesion among those communities, the Upper River and the Lower River and its tributaries.
Los Angeles River—Background. In the late 1700s when the Spanish founded the pueblo that became Los Angeles, the LA River supported diverse flora and fauna and much of what is now southern and western Los Angeles was marsh. The Spanish followed the example of the Native Americans and settled near the river to use its flow to supply drinking and irrigation water. As Los Angeles grew and prospered, settlements and farming continued to encroach upon the river’s floodplain, while also depending upon it for water. As time progressed, booming development along the river as well as increasing urbanization provided for larger and larger impacts from river flooding. Between 1850 and 1900, there were 11 major flood events along the river. The devastating flooding in 1914 led to the passage of the Los Angeles Flood Control District (LAFCD) Act the next year (Chapter 755, Statutes of 1915). More serious flooding in the 1930s forced the LAFCD to ask for federal help. In 1936, Congress directed the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to “channelize” the river to help control flooding. Channelization by concrete started in 1938 and was completed in 1960. The river is now straighter and deeper in many locations, moving high volumes of flood water rapidly downstream to San Pedro Harbor. The Flood Control District and the Corps share the responsibility for the operation and management of these flood control and water conservation facilities.
Today the river begins in Canoga Park at the confluence of Bell Creek and the Arroyo Calabasas. It flows mostly east through the San Fernando Valley, where numerous tributaries join, to Burbank and Griffith Park. The river flows through 13 cities in total and is contained within the County of Los Angeles. It is now almost entirely lined in concrete, although there are 3 “soft-bottomed” sections in the Sepulveda Basin (San Fernando Valley), Griffith Park and in Long Beach. Particularly along the Lower LA River, industrial activity and railyards are immediately adjacent to the river and can effectively isolate it from the surrounding communities.
Although planners had envisioned greenbelts interconnecting parklands along the river as early as the 1930s, the more recent interest in the revitalization and promotion of the re-integration of the river and its tributaries into the adjacent neighborhoods began in the mid-to-late 1980s. There was growing recognition that compared to other large American cities Los Angeles has relatively fewer parks, particularly in under-represented communities. In the early 1990s, community activism over turning a railyard adjacent to the river (the Taylor Yards) into open space coincided with the County of Los Angeles beginning a process that, after considerable input from stakeholders and community outreach, resulted in the County’s Los Angeles River Master Plan (County Master Plan) in 1996.
The Master Plan described how economic growth could be spurred along the river in the county through zoning changes and the development of open space, recreational, cultural, artistic, educational, and other opportunities. This river revitalization aimed to “achieve a better river environment for future generations in the Los Angeles basin.” The Los Angeles City Council established its own ad hoc committee on the river in 2002 and the City’s Master Plan was released in 2007. Continuing the long-term goals of the County Master Plan, the City Master Plan also promoted the revitalization of the river as a multi-benefit solution to addressing and enhancing water quality and flood control while enabling safe access to the river and restoring a functional river ecosystem.
In 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced that its designation of the LA River as a “traditional navigable waterway,” protected under the Clean Water Act, would ensure the vitality of the river. The LA River was also identified in 2010 as a priority by the Obama administration under the America's Great Outdoors initiative and is now one of seven pilot cities for the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. Then, in May 2014, the Army Corps backed the $1 billion alternative in the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Study, a plan to restore an 11-mile stretch of the LA River from Griffith Park to downtown Los Angeles.
Multiple Jurisdictions LA River Watershed—Patrolling the River. The author points out that the governance of the LA River’s entire watershed is complex. Many small cities have jurisdiction over the LA River and its tributaries. The Lower LA River includes the cities of Vernon, Commerce, Maywood, Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, South Gate, Lynwood, Compton, Paramount, Carson, and Long Beach. The upper watershed includes several tributaries including the Tujunga, Pacoima, and Rio Honda, passing through a number of cities from the Santa Monica Mountains to downtown Los Angeles. Each of these cities individually has jurisdiction over their portion of the LA River for law enforcement.
The LA River crosses several state agency jurisdictions, mainly the SMMC and the RMC. The SMMC currently has authority to provide ranger services along its jurisdiction whereas within the RMC, there is not a ranger program available, except as provided by the multiple cities. According to the author, this bill would draw together all of the jurisdictions to create a unified river ranger program. The idea is not necessarily to extend the SMMC ranger program but to work with the lower LA River communities and the City of LA to determine what a ranger program should be. River rangers could do more than law enforcement, as is the case in the state and national park system, including:
- Monitor conditions on the river;
- Protect people who use the river’s public spaces;
- Engage the communities along the river in the protection/conservation of the river’s resources.
Related Legislation.
AB 466 (Bocanegra), of this session, creates a working group focused on the upper watershed tributaries of the Los Angeles River, including the Tujunga and Pacoima washes.
AB 530 (Rendon), Chapter 684, Statutes of 2015, created the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group that developed the idea of a river ranger program for the entire LA River.
AB 1471 (Rendon), Chapter 188, Statutes of 2014, placed Proposition 1 on the November 2014 ballot. Prop. 1 was a successful $7.545 billion dollar general obligation bond for water-related projects and programs. Proposition 1 includes, among other provisions, $30 million each for the SMMC and the RMC as well as $100 million for urban creeks and streams.
SB 1201 (De León), Chapter 212, Statutes of 2012, provided for public use of the LA River by adding education and recreational purposes to the LA County Flood Control Act where those uses were not inconsistent with flood control and water conservation.
Arguments in Support. Supporters argue that this bill will promote stronger outdoor education and naturalist programs within this highly urbanized river corridor. They argue that strong public safety measures will promote a safe bikeway and river parkway use. Finally, they argue that this bill will enhance community engagement with operators of the river to create connections and connectivity.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Outdoor Recreation Partners
California Park & Recreation Society
City Of Bell
City Of Huntington Park
East Bay Regional Park District
Friends of the Los Angeles River
Latino Outdoors
River La
State Park Partners Coalition
Trust For Public Land, The
Urban Semillas
Pedro Aceituno, Council Member, Bell Gardens City Council
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Catherine Freeman / W., P., & W. /
Date of Hearing: May 10, 2017
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1558
Author:(Cristina Garcia) – As Amended Ver:March 28, 2017
Policy Committee: | Water, Parks and Wildlife | Vote: | 10 - 5 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the San Gabriel and Lower Low Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the California Conservation Corps (CCC), the State Lands Commission (SLC), and local agencies that have jurisdiction over segments of the Los Angeles River, to develop a Los Angeles River Ranger Program for the purpose of preserving and protecting the river, and those who access the river.
Specifically, this bill requires the Conservancies, in cooperation with the Lower LA River Working Group (established pursuant to AB 530, Chapter 684, Statutes of 2015) to prepare a plan for the design and implementation of the LA River Ranger Program including financing and implementation. The plan is to be developed to accomplish all of the following:
- Establish an identity for the LA River as a place for its communities to enjoy recreational opportunities and learn about the river’s history and environmental resources.
- Improve public safety for visitors to the LA River, and provide a system for coordinating the work of River Rangers with other local and state government entities.
- Foster collaboration among interests and jurisdictions, and engage communities along the LA river.
- Protect the parks, open space, and other public places adjacent to the LA River.
- Promote and provide equal access and equity with regard to the development and placement of improvements along the LA River. Incorporate principles expressed in the Presidential Memorandum, dated January 12, 2017, entitled Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters.
- Provide a system for coordinating the work of River Rangers with programs offered by local governments and the CCC.
FISCAL EFFECT:
- According to the RMC, its cost of preparing the plan will be $500,000 (ELPF or other special fund.)
- Minor costs for SMMC, DPR and CCC to participate in the development of the plan.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According the author, "I’ve used the Los Angeles river and tributaries like the Rio Hondo to ride my bike or run since I was a kid. And there has always been a very visible inconsistency in regards to investment amongst the multiple communities that exist along the river. Tributaries like the Rio Hondo are often over looked and not included in organized efforts centered on the Los Angeles River. A unified River Ranger program can create the needed cohesion among those communities, the Upper River and the Lower River and its tributaries."
- Background. The LA River is 51 miles long, contained entirely within the County of Los Angeles, and passes through 13 cities, including 32 miles that stretch across the City of Los Angeles. The LA River begins in Canoga Park, at the confluence of Bell Creek and the Arroyo Calabasas, and then flows mostly east through the San Fernando Valley where it is joined by several tributaries. In Burbank, it enters and begins skirting Griffith Park, bending sharply southward as it does so. This stretch of the LA River, down to Elysian Park, is called the Glendale Narrows, and contains one of only three stretches of the river with an earthen bottom. After leaving the Glendale Narrows, the river continues southward through downtown Los Angeles until it eventually reaches the Long Beach harbor.
Although planners had envisioned greenbelts interconnecting parklands along the river as early as the 1930s, the more recent interest in the revitalization and promotion of the re-integration of the river and its tributaries into the adjacent neighborhoods began in the mid-to-late 1980s.
In September 2013, the Army Corps, in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles, announced the availability of a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (Draft IFR) for the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Study. In May 2014, the Army Corps backed the $1 billion alternative in the study to restore an 11-mile stretch of the LA River from Griffith Park to downtown Los Angeles. This bill creates the Work Group to focus revitalization efforts from the headwaters of the Los Angeles River at the confluence of Bell and Calabasas Creeks to Griffith Park.
- Multiple Jurisdictions LA River Watershed—Patrolling the River. The governance of the LA River’s entire watershed is complex. Many small cities have jurisdiction over the LA River and its tributaries. The Lower LA River includes the cities of Vernon, Commerce, Maywood, Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, South Gate, Lynwood, Compton, Paramount, Carson, and Long Beach. The upper watershed includes several tributaries including the Tijunga, Paicoma, and Rio Honda, passing through a number of cities from the Santa Monica Mountains to downtown Los Angeles. Each of these cities individually has jurisdiction over their portion of the LA River for law enforcement.
The LA River crosses several state agency jurisdictions, mainly the SMMC and RMC. The SMMC currently has authority to provide ranger services along its jurisdiction, whereas within the RMC, there is not a ranger program available, except as provided by the multiple cities. According to the author, this bill would draw together all of the jurisdictions to create a unified river ranger program.
- Related Legislation. AB 466 (Bocanegra), of this session, creates a working group focused on the upper watershed tributaries of the Los Angeles River, including the Tijunga and Paicoma washes. This bill is pending in this Committee on Suspense.
AB 530 (Rendon), Chapter 684, Statutes of 2015, created the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group that developed the idea of a river ranger program for the entire LA River.
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Discussed in Hearing
2MIN
Senate Floor
1H
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
7MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water
1MIN
Assembly Floor
1H
Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
16MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):