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

Along the gentle bends of the Los Angeles River, specifically in an area called Taylor Yard, a distinctive high-pitched call pierces through the urban din. This sound belongs to the least Bell’s vireo, a petite olive-gray songbird indigenous to Southern California. Once on the brink of extinction for over four decades, this endangered species is now making a remarkable comeback, offering a glimmer of hope for the revitalization of this historically overlooked waterway.

The lush wetlands that once lined the riverbanks provided an ideal habitat for the vireo before urban development reshaped the Los Angeles River Basin into a bustling rail yard, which led to a significant decline in the bird’s population. However, recent years have seen a resurgence of this charming songbird. The establishment of Rio de Los Angeles State Park in 2007 was pivotal for its recovery, and sightings of the vireo in the early 2010s indicated a hopeful trend. Now, with nesting pairs and fledglings making appearances, the presence of the vireo is a testament to success.

At the forefront of these efforts is the Audubon Center at Debs Park, under the leadership of Evelyn Serrano, which has been dedicated to restoring Taylor Yard to create a welcoming environment for the vireo. By planting native trees and re-establishing the riparian ecosystem along the river, the center has facilitated the vireo’s thriving in its natural habitat.

The revival of the least Bell’s vireo underscores the potential for a more natural Los Angeles River. With the ambitious 100 Acre Partnership set to complete the Taylor Yard restoration by 2028, the city has a unique chance to foster vital habitats for its endemic species. This initiative is part of a broader vision to evolve Los Angeles into a more sustainable and wildlife-friendly urban environment.

The Lost Legacy

Before becoming a vibrant entertainment epicenter, Los Angeles was characterized by its river.

Spanning 51 miles, the river once supported a rich ecosystem across an 871-square-mile watershed. Indigenous tribes thrived along its banks, utilizing the water for agriculture and supporting their communities. However, as urbanization progressed, flood control measures manipulated the river’s natural flow, resulting in widespread habitat loss and environmental decline.

Today, restoration projects along the Los Angeles River and its adjacent habitats provide a beacon of hope for a sustainable future. By reconnecting with the city’s natural heritage and safeguarding its biodiversity, initiatives like the 100 Acre Partnership aim to rejuvenate the river ecosystem and bolster its native wildlife.

In 1930, the river faced a major turning point when Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. proposed a visionary plan to establish parks and public spaces along the river, incorporating green flood prevention strategies. Unfortunately, this proposal faced significant opposition in light of the stock market crash that year. Following destructive floods in 1934 and 1938, the Army Corps of Engineers commenced a project to encase the L.A. River in concrete, completing the work by 1960. Despite the setbacks, Olmsted’s vision has been hailed as a glimpse of what Los Angeles could have been, as noted by Ben Harris, a senior staff attorney at Los Angeles Waterkeeper.

Over the years, the river faded from the consciousness of many Angelenos, but the founding of Friends of the L.A. River by Lewis MacAdams in 1986 rekindled interest in this vital waterway. MacAdams imagined a restored river where wildlife and people could thrive together, tirelessly advocating for its recognition as a natural entity. His efforts culminated in the river being granted certain protections under the U.S. Clean Water Act in 2010.

A significant milestone in the river’s restoration narrative is the transformation of Taylor Yard, a former rail yard acquired by the City of L.A. in 2017. The Paseo del Rio park at Taylor Yard, managed by the 100 Acre Partnership, aims to reconnect the community with the river while providing essential habitat for local species. However, the industrial history of the land poses challenges related to pollution remediation, which the partnership is actively addressing. The Department of Toxic Substances Control and the 100 Acre Partnership are collaborating to devise a cleanup plan for Taylor Yard, ensuring a safe environment for new habitats. Once an agreement is reached, the project can advance rapidly, with aspirations to showcase the river’s potential ahead of the 2028 Games. The focus remains on creating a natural environment that can harmonize with the river’s engineered features, balancing human needs with ecological preservation. While opinions vary on the optimal use of the river, Taylor Yard offers a distinct opportunity for revitalization, devoid of some of the controversies that accompany other restoration projects. The debate surrounding the future of the L.A. River continues, with various stakeholders advocating for different strategies to balance flood management and ecological restoration. Nonetheless, the prospect of a more natural and resilient river is within reach, bolstered by unprecedented federal funding for green infrastructure. As conversations around the river’s future evolve, the imperative to restore this iconic waterway for generations to come remains a top priority. “They come here to reflect,” Baldauf emphasizes, “the presence of nature within the city, highlighted by the sight of a majestic great blue heron soaring overhead.”

As discussions around the river’s future continue in both legal arenas and public forums, restoration plans are progressing. Initiatives like the Los Angeles River Fish Passage and Habitat Structures Design Project are being implemented to aid the return of steelhead trout. Additionally, the Friends of the L.A. River’s Great L.A. River Cleanup, recognized as the nation’s largest urban river cleanup event, mobilizes thousands of volunteers each year in support of the river’s revitalization.

While Taylor Yard remains a focal point for restoration efforts, other areas along the river are also evolving into more natural environments. The Dominguez Gap Wetlands in Long Beach serve as a habitat for indigenous flora and fauna; Urban Orchard, a 30-acre passive park in South Gate, is adorned with fruit trees along the riverbanks; the Tujunga Wash Greenway and Stream Restoration Project contributes to recharging the San Fernando Valley Groundwater Basin; and bioswales in Caballero Creek Park filter stormwater pollution naturally.

All these improvements create valuable opportunities for the river’s native wildlife, including the resilient vireo, to flourish once again within 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.