A few weeks ago I was up in the Central Valley shooting some drought stories and from all the parched earth and empty fields I saw it seemed like we might never have rain again. This current storm here in LA is a very welcome relief, but long term we need a helluva lot more and most importantly we need it in the mountains of the north and the Sierra to seriously replenish the reservoirs and water system that provides for California agriculture and cities. But I’m not complaining! Yet!

Sunday on the River with a Kayak - from LA River Pix

I’ve been wanting to go kayaking down the LA River since about 2008. That was the year I stood on the shore of the river along the Sepulveda Basin and watched as kayaker George Wolfe emerged from upstream and the dense foliage and shore his craft just in front of me.

Two Faces of the LA River - from LA River Pix

If you have spent any time exploring even a bit of the LA River, you have no doubt seen its many different landscapes and incarnations, I have found and stumbled upon many of these in my journeys to photograph it. Last week I was shooting for a client who needed some printed photos of the Sepulveda Basin to display in a nearby housing development. Most of the river throughout the Basin is pretty calm and flat-watered as it runs a fairly straight course to the Dam at the southeastern end of the Recreation area.

Islands and skylines - from LA River Pix

Los Angeles River, Los Angeles Rivers, WaterPeter BennettMarch 4, 2014environment, environmental, Glendale Narrows, Los Angeles, los angeles river, Los Angeles skyline, soft bottomed, Urban Runoff, Water, Water Pollution, Watershed, WaterwaysComment

Vernon - from Los Angeles River Pix

Industrial, Los Angeles River, Los Angeles Rivers, WaterPeter BennettJanuary 8, 2014los angeles river, Peter Bennett, Urban Runoff, Vernon, Water, Water Pollution, Watershed, WaterwaysComment

Old Trestle Bridge - from LA River Pix

Los Angeles River, Los Angeles Rivers, Transportation, WaterPeter BennettDecember 18, 2013los angeles river, Urban Runoff, Water, Water Pollution, Watershed, WaterwaysComment

Kayaking the mighty LA River

The LA River is a River. As obvious as that may sound, the truth is most people don’t really think of the Los Angeles River as an actual river. They are probably more familiar with the river’s movie roles such as the Governator barreling down its corridor on a motorcycle in Terminator 2 or the cast of Grease singing, dancing and racing along its flat bed and beveled sides.

Nurdles

Coastal, Los Angeles Rivers, Plastic, WaterPeter BennettSeptember 1, 2010algalita, Charlie Moore, Great Pacific Garbage Patch, North Pacific Gyre, nurdles, Plastic, plastic bags, Water Pollution Comments

The Winter Rains

Los Angeles Rivers, Plastic, Recycling and Trash, WaterPeter BennettMay 12, 2010Alluvial plain, Ballona Creek, ecosystem, Garbage boom, Glendale Narrow, Long Beach, los angeles river, Rain Water, Urban Runoff, Water Pollution, Watershed Comments