Originally an alluvial river that ran freely across a flood plain, the Los Angeles River's path was unstable and unpredictable with the mouth of the river moving frequently from one place to the other. The river was prone to bursting its banks with devastating affects, a problem that plagued the local area well into the 1930's. This situation ultimately lead to an outcry for flood control measures. The Army Corps of Engineers began an ambitious project of completely encasing the river's bed and banks in concrete leaving only a trickle of water flowing down its middle. Today, this intermittent river flows for most of its 51 miles through a narrow concrete channel. This photo was taken from the middle of an extremely dry Los Angeles River basin, looking toward the Olympic Viaduct Bridge (built in 1925). For many years the Los Angeles River was the subject of many jokes because of its dry riverbed. This photo shows proof of it; not a single drop of water can be seen in the basin. Instead, sand and vegetation seem to be the only things in abundance here.
River channels--California--Los Angeles Sandy soils--California--Los Angeles Bridges--California--Los Angeles Rivers--California, Southern Olympic Viaduct Bridge (Calif.) Los Angeles River (Calif.)
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