On July 21, 2011 the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) received a license to operate the first non-motorized boating pilot program on the Los Angeles River at Sepulveda Recreation Basin. The goals of the pilot program are to assess the feasibility for a yearly seasonal recreational boating program on the Los Angeles River and raise awareness of the River, its history and its future.

The Paddle the Los Angeles River pilot program, will run from August 13, to September 25, 2011, Saturdays and Sundays only.  The LACC and its partners will offer supervised canoe and kayak trips down a 1.5-mile stretch of the Los Angeles River in the San Fernando Valley.  There will be two recreation-education trips per day, with 10 participants per tour. Each tour will be conducted by certified guides and will include a ranger/naturalist from the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). Each trip will include a boating clinic and educational talks from a variety of guests speakers. All boating and safety equipment are provided as part of the fee paid by attendees. 

Since the program is a pilot to assess the feasibility of the river for future recreational uses, the short time frame only allows for a limited number of participants. Your support of this pilot program is key in the establishment of future recreational uses of the river that will hopefully be able to meet the full extent of the public demand for this service. 

WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN THIS PROGRAM?

The Los Angeles Conservation Corps has partnered with the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), The River Project, Los Angeles River Expeditions, Friends of the Los Angeles River, and Urban Semillas to develop a high caliber recreation-education boating program for the public during the license period.

The Conservation Corps, along with many of its partners, is a non-profit organization that provides educational and training programs to young people. Since 1997, they have offered marine conservation programs at the Sea Lab, a hands-on science center located in Redondo Beach. The Center educates more than 20,000 youth and visitors about the importance of protecting our oceans and rivers.

This program is a natural extension of this mission. Since 2009, the LACC has maintained a Los Angeles River Corps, a youth training program in partnership with the City of LA. This project combines classroom education with outdoor experience for our members and furthers the goals outlined in the City’s Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan through projects such as river clean-ups, litter abatement, graffiti removal and vegetation management in the Glendale Narrows segment of the River. Members participate in education and training sessions covering topics such as watershed habitat, native landscaping, river hydrology, ecology, and water quality management efforts.

HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE RIVER?

You can participate by donating to the Los Angeles Conservation Corps’ river maintenance and boating program by clicking here. When donating please indicate that you would like to designate your donation to the “paddle the LA River pilot program”.

Some program partners also have donation and volunteer opportunities:

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, a Joint Powers Authority

The River Project

Friends of the Los Angeles River

Urban Semillas

Los Angeles River Expedition (for-profit organization)

You can learn more about the Los Angeles River through the program partner links or go to www.lariver.org, the City of Los Angeles River Website.