The LA River has not only experienced pollution in the form of trash, but also chemicals. Oil from nearby factories also tended to spill into the river.
The river used to be a common spot for fishing. Unfortunately, the water became contaminated after the channelization, which resulted in less fish.
Before the river was channelized, plant and animal life thrived in the LA River. But in 1938, a major flood came in, destroying property and killing people. After this, the city of Los Angeles decided to channelize the river in concrete to prevent future flooding. The switch to channelization hurt the plants and animals living by the river. The water moved much faster, since plants and sand were removed from the river. Due to this, the river had no time to fill. This dropped the water level dramatically and eradicated the fish population. Also, the new concrete channel stopped the water from making its way to the natural aquifer, which brings water from some of the natural sources, such as springs, into cities and towns so the residents can use it. This led to less water for both wildlife and the residents of LA. Many animals also left because of the houses being built by the river. Along with this, trash gathered in the water, polluting the river. The river’s channelization has affected the environment in many ways.
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In order to put the concrete in, the vegetation had to be removed. Ever since then, there have been very few plants along the LA River.