Los Angeles

Testing Finds Fecal Bacteria in LA River Water

Signs went up, warning people to avoid swallowing the water, allowing it to contact the face, and saying swimming in the river was specifically not permitted.

Amid a flurry of planning to revitalize the Los Angeles River and increase recreational activities like kayaking, issues about contamination of the water were raised Wednesday.

"We found, unfortunately, there are high levels of bacteria in the water," said Katherine Pease, a Heal the Bay biologist who directed the water quality testing.

The study focused on two river stretches used for kayaking. All of the water samples taken last summer from the river in Elysian Valley contained levels of the indicator bacteria Enterococcus exceeding federal standards, as did half the sampling done in Sepulveda Basin, according to the Heal the Bay report.

Pease believes most of the pollutants come from untreated runoff channeled to the river by storm sewers.

"Our storm drain system is a huge culprit," she said.

The study quantifies a bacterial presence that had already been known. In fact, when approved kayaking in the Elysian Valley stretch began in 2013, signs went up with warnings to avoid swallowing the water or allowing it to contact the face, and advising that river water should be washed off from skin. Swimming in the river was specifically not permitted.

"From the beginning, we've given instructions about incidental contact with water," said Steve Appleton, co-founder and owner of LA River Kayak Safari, which offers guided kayak tours through Elysian Valley.

Kayakers occasionally fall into the water, but seldom get fully immersed in the shallow LA River. Appleton is not aware of any earaches or gastrointestinal distress or other illness from exposure to the river water, he said.

Once the principal source of drinking water for the fledgling city of the Angels, when its population was less than 100,000, the river underwent a metamorphosis during the first half of the 20th century when its principal role shifted to flood control. Much of the natural riverbed and banks were lined with concrete. The river has remained under the management of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Momentum to "revitalize" the LA River has been building in recent years. The Army Corps of Engineers is considering options for restoration of an 11-mile stretch near downtown. River LA, a corporation set up by the city of Los Angeles, is developing a master plan for the river's entire 51 mile length, from its headwaters at the west end of the San Fernando Valley to its mouth in Long Beach Harbor. River LA has retained architects including the renowned Frank Gehry.

River LA recently published an index of data for nine focus issues, including water quality.

The deadline for complying with federal water quality standards remains more than a decade away. 

"We definitely hope the study will encourage water quality improvements in the river," Pease said.

Simple steps include public education encouraging citizens to avoid runoff from yard watering, and to pick up animal defecation. Capturing and treating stormwater runoff is more difficult and expensive.

Appleton supports the development of long-term plans, but believes short term measures can make a difference.

"We should take the fastest possible approach," Appleton said.

But in the Elysian Valley, there is also suspicion that improvements to the river are driven by economic motives for development.

Using the riverfront area's longtime nickname of Frogtown, residents have organized as FROG — Frogtown residents Opposing Gentrification.

They welcome improvements to river water quality, but not restoration of the river, said member Alejandro Palomino.

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