Wait. LA Has A River?

What’s the story behind the concrete channel running through our city?

If Los Angeles doesn’t rely on its own river for water, where does it come from? The truth is, LA imports around 80% of its water supply — a practice that has caused severe ecological damage in regions hundreds of miles away and deeply impacted Indigenous communities, whose lands were drained to meet the city’s needs.

In this episode, we trace the history of LA’s water sources and infrastructure, hear directly from members of the Paiute community still living with the consequences, and begin a conversation about what it will take to build more just and sustainable water systems for the future.

Guests:
Candice Dickens-Russell, Friends of the Los Angeles River
Charming Evelyn, Sierra Club Water Committee
Kyndall Noah & Teri Red Owl, Owens Valley Water Commission 

Featuring music from Santa Ana singer songwriter Ali Coyle