Departures is KCET's hyper-local web documentary, community engagement tool and digital literacy program about the cultural history of Los Angeles' neighborhoods.

CHANNELIZATION

Channelizing the LA River
Channelizing the LA River
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Slideshow: Channelization

The 1920's were a period of dramatic economic and demographic change in Los Angeles, the city growing at an unprecedented rate. An influx of new residents - and the accompanying boom in real estate development - brought with it an upsurge in demand for city services such as water and sewage. The boom also turned the river from a water-providing asset to a nuisance - and worse - whenever heavy rainfall became the inevitable flash flood. In the late 1930's the Army Corps of Engineers began to channelize the river in order to control its watershed, thereby creating a drainage system for the city.

Above, a slideshow with captions illustrating the reason for and construction of the LA River concrete channel.

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Support for the Departures' Los Angeles River installment is provided through these funders and local community partners, as well as from viewers like you.



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