Location: Los Angeles County
Project Type: Restoration Planning
Status: Completed
Habitat Type: Riparian
Cost: $6,000,000
Area Affected: 5 acres
Project Footprint: 2,189 ft stream miles
Assembly District: 45
Senate District: 24
Congressional District: 34
Project Lead/Grantee:
North East Trees, Inc. (Larry Smith, 323-441-8634)
For more information, visit scwrp.org
This project conducted technical studies and developed detailed designs for restoration of one-half mile of creek corridor and enhancement of existing wetland habitat in Hazard Park in the City of Los Angeles. Plans intend to restore streambed in one of Los Angeles City’s oldest parks. The 25-acre Hazard Park, named after Henry Thomas Hazard who was the mayor of Los Angeles from 1889 to 1892, became a city park in 1884. It’s located on the east side – along Soto Street, between Valley and Marengo, near County USC Medical Center.
After being a creek for milliena, the Hazard Park creek site became part of the city’s zanja system – municipal ditches for irrigation and water delivery. It subsequently was a railroad spur track (splitting the park into two) for the Pacific Electric streetcars/trains. The rails have been removed, and a very degraded stream is slowly making a comeback. Today, there are telltale signs of riparian habitat, including cattails and dragonflies, and even some standing water, during the wetter months, but public access is limited.
