The Los Angeles River: Its Life, Death, and Possible Rebirth

Three centuries ago, the Los Angeles River meandered through marshes and forests of willow and sycamore. Trout spawned in its waters and grizzly bears roamed its shores. The bountiful environment the river helped create supported one of the largest concentrations of Indians in North America. Today, the river is made almost entirely of concrete. Chain—link fence and barbed wire line its course. Shopping carts and t...