Long before the river was confined in concrete by flood control projects, before settlement by the Spanish and the increasing diversion of its water for irrigation and domestic use, the river flowed when and where it wanted, often raging out of control during the winter rains…
Much of the river’s waters never reached the sea, instead spreading over the countryside and joining with springs flowing from surrounding hills to form vast marshes, shallow lakes, and small ponds.”
From Chapter 1 of The Los Angeles River: Its Life, Death, and Possible Rebirth by Blake Gumprecht. Available at Amazon.
Note to Writers: Imagine you are the Los Angeles River. Think of the ways you have become “confined in concrete,” then make a conscious decision to spread over the countryside and join with springs flowing from surrounding hills to form vast marshes, shallow lakes, and small ponds. Splash, splash, splash away!
Photo: Shot by Silver Birch from an Amtrak train a few years ago — before the City’s Graffiti Abatement crew descended on the area.
Silver Birch Press 