1. US Army Corps of Engineers BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Ecosystem Restoration Along the Los Angeles River: Creativity within Concrete Dan Sulzer Deputy Chief of Planning Division May 2012 Gumprecht LA River 1880s

2. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Objectives Primary Objectives:  Restore riparian habitat  Establish habitat connectivity  Restore more natural hydrologic and hydraulic processes in the alternative reach  Restore aquatic habitat Other objectives that are considerations for success  Decrease peak discharges  Improve water quality  Improve infiltration and recharge

3. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Original Potential Project Areas Current Potential Project Areas Purpose: Evaluate the potential federal interest for ecosystem restoration opportunities along the upper 32 miles of Los Angeles River. Potential project area was refined from discrete locations to one continuous reach.

4. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Bull Creek Tujunga Wash Sun Valley Headworks Los Angeles River Arroyo Seco Studies and Projects

5. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Headworks Ecosystem Restoration Restoration of 43 acres of riparian and wetland habitat through a multi-objective project including water quality and passive recreation. Currently working toward an Alternative Formulation Briefing.

6. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People!  No increase in flood risk  Existing infrastructure  Purposes of the existing Corps Project  Competing land use  Water availability  Land availability  Hazardous, toxic waste  Levee regulations  Cultural/historic sites Constraints

7. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Typical Measures Under Consideration  Remove concrete & widen channel/ terrace banks  Flood by-pass  Create storage/ detention  Create side channels with riparian/wetlands habitat  Restore tributary confluences  Daylight storm drains, storm water treatment wetlands  Restore native habitat to river and right of way,  Connect to green streets

8. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Combined Habitat Assessment Protocols (CHAP)  CHAP is a method for quantifying habitat quality and the benefits provided by the current and restored ecosystems  CHAP allows us to evaluate and compare restoration alternatives in a non-monetary way

9. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Initial Alternatives Array  33 initial alternatives, combining 220 measures  Developed using: ► Input from City, Public Agencies, Scientists & Engineers ► Objectives ► Previously formulated alternatives ► Alternatives formulated during charettes ► Variations of the above

10. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People!

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12. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Next Steps  Select final array of alternatives  Analyze final array and recommend a plan  Complete Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report  Alternative formulation briefing  Public review of EIS/EIR  Civil Works Review Board  Design phase

13. BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People! Future Planning IDIQ Contracts Small Business (A-E) - Plan Formulation ► Summer 2012 Small Business (Professional Services) - Environmental Resources ► Summer 2012 Small Business (Professional Services) – Cultural Resources ► Winter 2012 Unrestricted (A-E) - Coastal Resources ► Summer 2012 Unrestricted (A-E) - Plan Formulation ► Selections Completed (April 2012) Unrestricted (Professional Services) – Environmental Resources ► Winter 2012