'(@<(@L`E  ݾHH(FG(HH(d'@xTxT d .  =@? ݸ0mTݸ0&\ &\0ݾ$"ݸ0mTڮ8Iڮڮ>Iڮڮ>IڮڮQdd~fbedd "fddh_  ygddHO0Hhdd(Q_iC$HZ-` `#The River of No Return? `5 A Simulation Activity for the Los Angeles River` L$HZ`$ Purpose of the Activity : @L The following quote from the California Science Framework (Chapter 6--MScience Processes and the Teaching of Science, Section E: Values and Ethics :p. 158) illustrates the intent of the simulation activity: @L   Any thorough learning experience regarding values and ethical A considerations makes use of rational decision-making skills. G Students need to analyze issues by resovling ambiguities, taking into E account the most relevant values of the decision makers, balancing > the advantages and drawbacks of alternative solutions, and B projecting the likely consequences of a particular choice. By = combining such a decision-making procedure with pertinent A scientific and technological information, students move toward  achieving scientific literacy.` @T As students work through this activity, encourage them to base their opinions Oon scientific principles as well as on social values and ethics. This type of Mactivity represents the highest level of thought processes that students can ;engage in--synthesizing information and making evaluations.  JConcepts derived from the framework that this activity encompasses are as follows: `,  Life Sciences, Section C--Ecosystems `% C-3  How do ecosystems change?` @K Recently, changes in ecosystems have been caused or accelerated by F human intervention. Some of these changes have been destructive to F ecosystems, causing the extinction of species and the disappearance  of their natural habitats. `L  C-4  What are the responsibilities of humans toward ecosystems? F Land use, pollution, energy use, and application of technology all A involve ethical considerations for individuals and society. G Conservation is not simply an ethical question; it is in the vested 8 self-interest of humans to conserve and respect nature. F Humans are unique among the earth's organisms in their intelligence D and adaptability. Humans can choose to change their behavior and 5 plan to provide for the needs of future generations. `     $Background on the Los Angeles River: @V The Los Angeles River, a well-kept secret here in the Los Angeles Basin (except Jduring the winter rainy season), has become the focus of much discussion, Jplanning, and contention in the past few years. Since its channelization Kbeginning in the 1930's as part of the Flood Control District, it has been Ptransformed into a giant paved drainage ditch that has nearly lost its identity Qas a true river. Lately, environmental groups as well as other groups concerned Owith increasing L. A.'s recreational capacity have begun the fight to recreate Tthat river identity. They feel that there are alternatives to the plan to make the Qriver even more regulated, controlled, and walled-in. Officials responsible for Nthe public safety see the need to prepare for the "100 year flood" which they Mfear would cause the river to overflow the existing channel. Their argument Osays that since L. A. is now so paved over with little remaining open land for Oabsorbing rainfall, we have no choice but to continue to process of harnessing 7in the river. Any other plan would prove disastrous. NOver the last few years, many studies have been conducted regarding the river Nand its future. Plans have been drawn up to show the efficacy of the various Tpoints of view. In the following activity, these points of view are the focus of a Msimulation in which groups set their plans before the Board of Supervisors. `lThe   Supervisors then   render  a decision on the future of the Los Angeles River.   ` Materials: @S  Video: "No Way Out" (available at your school or from the L. A. Co.  Office of Educ.*)  Timer`% For  Elementary Students:  Position Papers # 5 Name Cards labeled "Supervisor"  Name Tags for Group Members  Pictures of the River`$ For  Secondary Students: $ Newspaper articles about the riverE (students may be asked to do their own research and interviews  regarding the river) D Position Papers (may be composed by students after doing research) # 5 Name Cards labeled "Supervisor"  Name Tags for Group Members  Pictures of the RiverL$HZ1   * LACOE (310) 922-6111  9300 Imperial Highway  Downey, CA 90242-2890L$HZ`        Procedure: @Z [Note: Consider doing this activity after a field trip to the river, if possible. RStudents would then have a better opportunity to understand the various points of Xview regarding the river's future. Even without the trip, the activity should follow a study of the river.] @V Ask the students to think of situations in which they have had to explain their Ppoint of view to someone in a convincing way (e.g., explaining to their parents Jthat they want to go somewhere with their friends, they want their curfew Qextended, or they want an increase in their allowance). Tell them that often in Nthe community situations arise which require that a decision be made. Groups Hthat have opinions on various sides of the situation will come before a Jdecision-making body to state those opinions and attempt to influence the Sdecision, like students trying to get their parents to decide in their favor. The Odecision-makers, very much like parents, take all sides into consideration and Jthen render a decision based on the validity of the arguments presented. SIn the following activity, students will be given an opportunity to "argue" a case Pfor a certain point of view about plans for the future of the Los Angeles River.`   `' IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII` @V 1. Divide the class into groups of 4-5 students. Give each group an identity Ocorresponding to the position papers and choose one group of 5 to be the Board of Supervisors. O2. Have students read their group's "point of view" statement and caucus with Neach other on how best to present their argument for their plan for the L. A. KRiver. Give them about 15-20 minutes for group discussion. (You can make Lthis project more complex --especially in secondary--if you want them to do Ltheir own research, and/or gather visual aids such as charts or pictures to assist in their presentation). L3. Each group selects a spokesperson and is given 5 minutes to address the LBoard of Supervisors to present their case. (Draw numbers to determine who @presents first.) A timekeeper should be appointed by the Board. P4. After all presentations, the Supervisors caucus to decide on which point of Kview, or combination thereof, is the most valid. They then state what the 6policy will be on the future of the Los Angeles River. L5. After the decision is made, view the video "No Way Out" (a video on the Odangers of being near the L. A. River during flood stages) and discuss it with Nstudents. Ask them if their point of view on what should happen to the river Pwas changed as a result of viewing the video. Also ask them to consider if the Qvideo has a particular viewpoint/purpose and if other points of view could still -be considered even in the light of the video.        `   J III J    Group 1 :  RETURN OUR RIVER   J   III  J      @O This group advocates returning the river to a more natural state. Their Mreasoning revolves around the fact that the continuing urbanization of L. A. Jhas left us with very little area to recreate in, and with our burgeoning Npopulation we need more natural areas available to the public. Additionally, Nthey point out that by channeling the water in the river quickly to the ocean Pduring storm periods, very little water is allowed to percolate into the ground Cfor our aquifers. Why waste such a precious and scarce resource? SReturn Our River also feels that the river could be a unifying force in our city. PAs it winds its way through the area, it could be a symbol of our commonalities Mas a people rather than a dividing line. Presently, the river is treated in Sseparate sections with flood control projects that vary according to location. It Halso separates the city in two making communities that border the river  strangers. `& Ways to restore the river :  2 *Unpave portions to create a more natural settingG *Purchase land along the river to convert into natural flood basins " (similar to the Sepulveda Basin)`S *Revegetate slopes and hillsides to increase infiltration during rains  D *Line sides of the river with porous material to accomodate more  infiltration 5 *Widen the river in various locations where possible@S *  Set aside land away from the river as containment basins to prevent @ large amounts of water from entering the river during rainy ` seasons L$HZ` `)Possible uses for a restored river : `G *Increased habitat and migration stopover locations for wildlife `G *An educational lab for students to learn about urban ecosystems  *A greenbelt for recreation , *A bikeway for non-polluting transportation  *Jogging paths along the edge  *Canoeing and small boat use C *A natural filtration system for pollutants going out to the ocean     `      `  C$HZ`(    /m   Group 2 :  PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION /m L$HZ   @W The Public Safety Commission has as its responsibility the preservation of lives Qand property of the County. The Los Angeles River is under their jurisdiction. NOver 50 years ago, work began on controlling the river by lining the riverbed Nwith concrete and creating a flood control channel. It has done its job very Mwell since completion, but lately, storms have threatened to send more water Ninto the channel than it was built to hold. Some reasons for that threat are Qthat more of the city is paved over (parking lots, shopping malls, etc.) so less Qwater can infiltrate into the ground. Population is always on the increase here Min the city, so more waste water is sent down the channel. Changes in storm @]patterns, such as the  El Nino  effect, have produced greater amounts of rainfall in shorter time periods. MThe Commission has begun to plan for the so-called "100 year flood" which is Fpredicted to overpower the existing system. Plans include building a P1-8 foot wall on top of the sides of the channel from the juncture with the Rio JHondo through the lower reaches to the mouth of the river in Long Beach. LRationale for this plan is that communities downstream need to be protected Uin the event of flooding. It is not possible to go back in time to an earlier stage 8when L. A. had ample open space to absorb floodwaters. MThe most urgent need today and in the future is to get rid of the water that Afalls on Los Angeles in the fastest, most efficient way possible.                `      C$HZ`     $$   Group 3 :  ALLIED BUSINESSPERSON'S ASSOCIATION   $$ L$HZ   @U There are many businesses that line the Los Angeles River. When the river was Mchannelized years ago, businesses were built along its banks since they were Hnow protected from the floods. The river had lost any potential scenic Rattributes, so mostly warehouses, railroad facilities, and industries established Pthemselves there. Presently, most of those businesses are in a state of decay, Lor out of business altogether. The Allied Businessperson's Association has Rproposed a revitalization of the river area with a mixed use of retail businesses Pand green space along the river to attract affluent people back into the city. LTheir proposal doesn't disagree with the Public Safety Commission's plan to Kkeep the river channelized, but they would include some scenic areas where Ptheir stores and restaurants could line the river. They have been studying the Pcity of San Antonio's Riverwalk area as a model. Their plan would also include Jwholesale shopping outlets that would be adjacent to the river. They are Mdefinitely opposed to making the river more naturalized, however, since they Iare not convinced that their property/businesses would be protected from Pflooding. Also, they feel that the system as is has protected them since 1938, Nso why risk changing it? Further, they would like to assess local homeowners Qto help pay for this refurbishment since they claim it will increase surrounding Qproperty values. Better to use public funds for revitalizing the economy rather Gthan pour money into an ecosystem that has been dead or lost for years.                           `y YIR  Group 4 :  RIVER HOMEOWNERS UNITED  YIR  ` ODespite perceptions to the contrary, a significant group of homes can be found Oin the river environs. River homeowners have united into an advocacy group to Hwork toward improving living conditions in the area. Tired of run-down Mwarehouses and abandoned buildings, which are often sites for crime and drug Ndealing, residents wish to see the river as a source for increasing property Nvalues. They, too, are concerned about flood dangers, but they also want the Oriver area to be greener and more inviting--a place where they can communicate Lwith nature. Usually, this amenity is afforded only to the affluent in our  society. JRiver Homeowners United has requested a plan for the river that calls for Ncontinued flood control, but in a more natural setting. However, they do not Jfavor a true naturalization of the river such as the environmental groups Kpropose because they may lose their homes through condemnation proceedings Jas land is needed for natural areas. They would like to see more planned Mrecreation sites, like parks such as the newly created Elysian Gateway Park, Pgolf courses, and picnic areas, even damming up the river in non-flooding times Rto use it for inner-tubing or rafting. Another need is for increased policing of Mthe river area to improve public safety. They do not want new warehouses or Pbusinesses of a large scale moving in by the river. And above all, they DO NOT 3want businesses to tax them for their improvements.                           `q bzv  Group 5 :  THE URBAN HOMELESS COALITION  bzv    @M With the influx of people into the city from around the U. S. and many Gcountries, combined with the depressed economy, a significant homeless Lpopulation has been created. These people have been increasingly using the Pspace below the river's overpasses and abandoned buildings nearby for shelter. HThe Coalition, formed through the help of charitable organizations, has Nbecome an advocacy group to try to find ways to solve the housing problems of the urban homeless. OOne approach is to refurbish existing abandoned buildings into shelters. This Mplan would require the strengthening of flood control protections already in Iplace. Naturalization of the river would not be in the interests of the NCoalition, since that plan would call for destruction of the buildings at the Kriverside. They also oppose the businesspersons' plan since it would only Psucceed in driving the homeless out of the area. Finally, they line up against Jhomeowners also since that group would like to see the homeless settle in `