How the Arrival of an Endangered Bird Indicates What’s Possible for the L.A. River

Among the gentle curve of the Los Angeles River, in an area known as Taylor Yard, a high-pitched sound can be heard above the city noise. This is the call of the least Bell’s vireo, a small olive-gray songbird native to Southern California. The endangered bird has made a comeback after disappearing for over 40 years, signaling a hopeful future for the once-neglected waterway.

Before urbanization transformed the Los Angeles River Basin, the wetlands along the river provided a perfect habitat for the vireo. However, the area was developed into a rail yard, causing the vireo population to decline. But in recent years, the bird has returned. The creation of Rio de Los Angeles State Park in 2007 played a crucial role, and sightings of the vireo in the early 2010s marked its gradual comeback. Now, with nesting pairs and fledglings spotted in the area, the vireo’s presence is a sign of success.

The Audubon Center at Debs Park, led by Evelyn Serrano, has been working tirelessly to restore Taylor Yard and provide a suitable environment for the vireo. By planting native trees and creating a riparian ecosystem along the river, the center has helped the vireo thrive in its natural habitat.

The return of the least Bell’s vireo highlights the potential for a more natural Los Angeles River. With the 100 Acre Partnership aiming to complete the restoration of Taylor Yard by 2028, the city has a unique opportunity to create vital habitat for its endemic species. This project is part of a larger vision to transform Los Angeles into a more sustainable and wildlife-friendly city.

What was lost

Before becoming a bustling entertainment hub, Los Angeles was defined by its river.

The river, with its 51 miles of flowing waters, once supported a diverse ecosystem spanning an 871-square-mile watershed. Native tribes settled along its banks, utilizing the water for agriculture and sustaining their communities. However, as the city grew, flood control measures altered the river’s natural course, leading to habitat loss and environmental degradation.

Today, efforts to restore the Los Angeles River and its surrounding habitats offer hope for a more sustainable future. By reconnecting with the city’s natural origins and preserving its biodiversity, initiatives like the 100 Acre Partnership aim to revitalize the river ecosystem and support its native species.

In 1930, the river reached a major crossroads when Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. proposed a plan to build parks and public spaces along the river with green flood prevention measures. However, the plan was met with resistance due to the stock market crash of the same year. Subsequently, after two destructive floods in 1934 and 1938, the Army Corps of Engineers began encasing the L.A. River in concrete, completing the project in 1960. Despite the challenges faced, Olmsted’s vision was praised as what L.A. could have been by Ben Harris, a senior staff attorney at Los Angeles Waterkeeper.

The river’s presence faded from the minds of many Angelenos over time, but the work of Friends of the L.A. River, founded by Lewis MacAdams in 1986, brought attention back to the river. MacAdams envisioned a restored river where animals and people could coexist, and he fought tirelessly for its recognition as a natural river. Through years of advocacy and activism, the L.A. River gained certain protections under the U.S. Clean Water Act in 2010.

A significant step towards the river’s restoration is the transformation of Taylor Yard, a former rail yard purchased by the City of L.A. in 2017. The creation of the Paseo del Rio park at Taylor Yard, overseen by the 100 Acre Partnership, aims to reconnect the community with the river and provide vital habitat for native species. However, the industrial past of the land presents challenges in terms of pollution cleanup, which the partnership continues to address. The Department of Toxic Substances Control and the 100 Acre Partnership must collaborate on a cleaning plan for Taylor Yard to create a safe site for new habitat. Once a strategy is agreed upon, the project can move forward swiftly, with the goal of showcasing the potential of the L.A. River in time for the 2028 Games. The focus is on creating a natural environment that can coexist with the river’s engineered purpose, balancing the needs of both humans and habitats. While there are differing opinions on how to best utilize the river, Taylor Yard presents a unique opportunity for revitalization without some of the controversies surrounding other restoration projects. The debate over the future of the L.A. River continues, with various stakeholders advocating for different approaches to balance flood management with environmental restoration. Despite the disagreements, the potential for a more natural and resilient river is within reach, with unprecedented federal funding available to invest in green infrastructure. As discussions around the river’s future evolve, the importance of restoring this iconic waterway for future generations remains a key priority. “They come here to reflect,” Baldauf explains. “The presence of nature within the city and the sight of a majestic great blue heron flying right above us.”

As debates about the future of the river persist in both the legal system and public discourse, plans for its restoration are still moving forward. Initiatives like the Los Angeles River Fish Passage and Habitat Structures Design Project are being implemented to support the return of steelhead trout. Additionally, the Friends of the L.A. River’s Great L.A. River Cleanup, the nation’s largest urban river cleanup event, sees thousands of volunteers each year working towards the river’s revitalization.

While Taylor Yard remains a key focus for restoration efforts, other areas along the river are also transforming into more natural spaces. The Dominguez Gap Wetlands in Long Beach provide a habitat for local plants and animals; Urban Orchard, a 30-acre passive park in South Gate, features fruit trees along the riverbanks; the Tujunga Wash Greenway and Stream Restoration Project helps recharge the San Fernando Valley Groundwater Basin; and bioswales in Caballero Creek Park act as natural filters for stormwater pollution.

Each of these improvements presents valuable opportunities for the river’s native wildlife, such as the resilient vireo, to thrive once again in the urban landscape of Los Angeles.

“We are part of nature, and we coexist with nature—even the nature we have created for ourselves,” Serrano reflects.