By Jason Islas
Staff Writer

November 4, 2013 -- Santa Monica’s State Assembly Representative Richard Bloom added his voice to a growing chorus calling for a massive revitalization of the Los Angeles River.

Along with L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and several members of the L.A. City Council, Bloom supported a $1.06 billion plan by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), known as Alternative 20, to restore much the eco system along the banks of the river damaged by flood control measures in the early 1930s.

Bloom and other supporters of Alternative 20 reject several cheaper -- and less comprehensive -- restoration plans proposed by the USACE, including the $444 million Alternative 13 and the $774 million Alternative 16.

"The bottom line is we need to get this right," Bloom told The Lookout Friday.

Recently, Bloom penned a letter to Josephine R. Axt, the planning division chief of the USACE's Los Angeles District.

“Only Alternative 20 embraces the vision of an urban waterway that supports wildlife habitat and becomes accessible and usable as a recreational opportunity for everyone in the region, regardless of socioeconomic status,” he wrote.

While Alternative 20 is the most expensive option, the USACE would shoulder about half of the cost of the project.

And, as the most comprehensive restoration plan, it would affect 719 acres of land along about 11 miles of the river, which stretches from north of the Santa Monica Mountains to Long Beach.

Though the river does not run through Bloom's assembly district, which includes Santa Monica, Brentwood, Hollywood and Beverly Hills, the project got his attention because he chairs the Assembly budget subcommittee that oversees natural resources and transportation.

"This is a lot of natural resources and a bit of transportation," he said, a point he elaborated on in his letter.

“Alternative 20 connects the restored river to the Los Angeles State Historic Park - a key component providing the urban population, particularly the economically disadvantaged, with access to green open space and a natural wildlife corridor,” Bloom wrote. 

“Additionally, Alternative 20 sets in motion the plan for greater federal and local funding coordination that will increase public access through various channel terracing and other improvements,” he said.

The recreation plan that goes along with Alternative 20 includes “includes the modification, upgrade, or creation of multi-use trails and related basic amenities” like wildlife viewing points, signage parking lots and restrooms, according to the USACE’s report on the proposed plans.

“The plan also includes non motorized multi use bridges across the LA River and smaller pedestrian bridges across tributaries or within large restored areas,” the report reads.

Last week, Garcetti and L.A. City Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield, Gil Cedillo, Mike Bonin and Mitch O’Farrell headed to Washington D.C. to lobby lawmakers to support Alternative 20.

According to reports, the team met with senior California Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, who pledged support for the project.

Bloom applauded the efforts of the mayor and the councilmembers.

“For decades, the surrounding communities have worked hard to make the seemingly impossible a reality,” Bloom wrote. “But now, much of that reality rests on the decision before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”

If Alternative 20 is approved, the project, supporters hope, will undo much of the work done by the USACE in the 1930s.

In order to stop seasonal flooding along the waterway, and the millions of dollars in damage it caused during years of heavy rains, the USACE replaced much of the river’s natural bed with concrete.

Now, supporters say, is the time to change that.