Can the Los Angeles River be Restored?

The LA River where it meets the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach, California. This is the entry point for migrating steelhead salmon that would hope to return to their spawning grounds in the mountains above Los Angeles. This marks the start of a nearly 40 mile journey upstream, though barriers above prevent a successful migration.

The LA river near downtown Los Angeles. This is what restoration groups, such as Stillwater Sciences, do not want the river to look like. It lacks areas for trout to hide in, tree cover, and other key elements of a trout-friendly river.

The LA River passes through the heart of the industrial areas in Los Angeles, including under many major freeways and underpasses.

Stillwater Sciences' Senior Manager Wendy Katagi walks fearlessly into the algae of the LA River near downtown.

Further upstream the river becomes more trout friendly. This is an example of what a restored LA River might look like, with trees and pools for fish to hide in as they migrate up and downstream.

Further upstream the river becomes more trout friendly. This is an example of what a restored LA River might look like, with trees and pools for fish to hide in as they migrate up and downstream.

Even further upstream in Pasadena, California, the habitat is even richer. The visual shif of this area to a more lush, green habitat is apparent.

It doesn't look like much, but below this graffitid boulder is a small rainbow trout, hiding in a shallow, cool pool. This area remains relatively intact for spawning trout, but they remain cutoff above and below by human barriers, such as dams. In an intact river ecosystem, this trout would be able to migrate downstream to the Pacific Ocean, where it would become a fullsized steelhead trout, only to return to this area to spawn at the end of its life. That process is impossible now.

One of many barriers along the Arroyo Seco, a tributary of the LA River.

Aerial view of ideal trout habitat near Pasadena, California.

Matt Drenner, a biologist with Stillwater Sciences, braves the very cold water to look for small trout. He always begins downstream and slowly works his way upstream.

It doesn't look like much, but this small opening and deep pool is a great place for trout to hide! And the team finds and films one. Be sure to watch our episode to get a glimpse of the trout!

As a photographer I always look for images that really put you in the experience of biologists and conservationists, and sometimes those images are sort of funny, much like the looks we got from trail runners and day hikers passing by. But this is an important step in understanding the health of the ecosystem.