Activism

Activism is simply another word for 'what you can do to help'… how you can become activated, and by so doing to improve your own life, the lives of others in your community and our surrounding environment.

It’s vital role you'll play — plus, it's rewarding to be an active citizen. Make your voice heard. Take your pick from the following actions... or come up with some new means yourself!

• Show your intent to go on a future river expedition. Even though the Paddle the LA River pilot program is currently in the "off-season," being on record through us helps build a constituency of substantial numbers (which can then affect policy — such as expanding the program sufficiently to be able to include you and yours).


• Contact your political representative(s) and share your thoughts. Go direct and contact your city councilmember or county supervisor to register your opinion.


• Volunteer with LA River Expeditions or any of our other key partners so we can achieve goals common to these organizations: Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, City of Los Angeles, Army Corps of Engineers, The River Project, Urban Semillas and Friends of the LA River.


• Make a donation or contribution to any of our partner organizations, to help us better help the LA River.


• Make an introduction between us and someone you know (e.g., passionate individual or corporate sponsor) who is in a position to help.

The Los Angeles River was, first and foremost, a river. It had been that way prior to our modern settlement, made on the lush confluence of two rivers: the Los Angeles River (think I-5, near Griffith Park) and the Arroyo Seco (think I-110, headed out to Pasadena).

Just because we, as a community, have mistreated and ignored our namesake river for more than 100 years now doesn’t let us, as citizens of Los Angeles, off the hook of responsibility for this river. YOU are the designated custodian-caretaker of this much-abused natural resource.

Pouring a gazillion tons of concrete over the river to control flooding doesn’t negate the river’s existence — it merely buries large portions of it. Some sections, however, have retained a semblance of the former river (Sepulveda Basin, Glendale Narrows/Elysian Valley, Long Beach).

You may believe that the L.A. River's situation is hopeless. But there are some very hopeful urban river revivals which demonstrate that these types of rivers CAN be revitalized. Click here to learn about dramatic urban river revitalizations that didn’t take decades to become a reality (sometimes in as few as 3-5 years!).

LA River Expeditions trusts that with the Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 determination about whole river being protected under the Clean Water Act, we are now entering an era of cooperation among environmental groups and governmental agencies.

At the heart of improving our river’s lot is the public’s re-acknowledgement that it has a fundamental, inalienable right to the river, as evidenced by the California constitution and time-honored ethics and common sense beliefs dating back to “public trust” Roman laws.

We're at a point where our water situation in California is becoming so unsustainable that a better solution for the Los Angeles River is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Only when YOU step up and take part will the river revitalization process flow even stronger. Keep in mind that safety, in and around the Los Angeles River (in fact, any waterbody — from bathtubs to swimming pools to oceans) must be a constant and primary consideration.

You’re awesome! Thanks for stepping up and taking action TODAY!!

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