The Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) operates the recreation zones on a seasonal basis in cooperation with the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, and the Army Corps of Engineers. There are two segments of the Recreation Zone; the 2-mile Sepulveda Basin River Recreation Zone and the 2.5 mile Elysian Valley River Recreation Zone. Both Recreation Zones are open sunrise to sunset daily for walking, fishing, and kayaking from Memorial Day to September 30 every year.

Researchers Begin Monitoring LA River Wildlife Using Remote Cameras

Source

LA Sanitation and Environment staff sample and test water twice a week at three locations in each Recreation Zone, corresponding to the beginning, middle, and end of each zone.

Samples are tested in a laboratory for the presence of E. coli bacteria, and for each sample a resulting MPN (Most Probable Number) per 100 milliliters (mL) is determined. The bacteria results at each location are compared to State of California water quality standards for water contact recreation (REC-1 and Limited REC-1) to determine if the water quality, in each Recreation Zone, is suitable for recreational activities.

Based on the bacteria levels found, the status of each recreation zone is determined and displayed on the table according to the following color-code.

After being closed for kayaking in 2020, due to the pandemic, both the Sepulveda Basin and Elysian Valley River Recreation Zones will be open for recreational activities beginning on May 31, 2021.

Last year water quality beacons were installed at the one kayak put-in site at the Sepulveda Basin and the two put-in sites at the Elysian Valley Recreation Zones. The beacons are remotely activated by LA Sanitation and Environment staff to provide visible public notification of the water quality of the LA River for recreational activities.

The color of the beacons will be either green, yellow, red, or flashing red based on the results of the bacteria testing at each zone or dangerous conditions determined by MRCA, such as high flows. The conditions for each color code are described in the table and in signage erected next to each water quality beacon.

GREEN - OPEN Water quality is suitable for recreational activities, but swimming in the river is still prohibited. Test results indicate bacteria levels lower than 320 MPN, the limit for REC-1.

YELLOW - OPEN (CAUTION) Users should exercise increased caution. Test results indicate bacteria levels between 320 MPN (REC-1) and 576 (Limited REC 1) at one or more of the sampling sites located in the recreation zone or above 576 at only one of the sites.

RED - CLOSED This LA River Recreation Zone is not suitable for recreational activities. Test results indicate levels exceeding 576 MPN (Limited REC-1) at two or more of the sampling sites located in the recreation zone. A Closure Advisory will be issued by the City of Los Angeles and the MRCA will close the recreation zone and post closed signs. The recreation zone will stay closed until further bacteria testing show that the zone is once again suitable for recreational activities.

Recreation Zone closed by the MRCA, not necessarily due to bacteria testing, but due to one of the following conditions:

1. Rain storm or flash flood that has the potential to increase the river flow in the recreation zones to unsafe levels.

2. Run-off of water used to fight fires into the LA River that has the potential to increase flows and/or contamination in the recreation zones to unsafe levels.

3. Sewage spill into the LA River that has the potential to raise bacterial contamination in the recreation zones to unsafe levels.

In all cases, MRCA will close the affected recreation zone for 72 hours or until flows have returned to normal and testing indicates that bacteria are at levels safe for recreation.

Water quality is suitable for recreational activities, but swimming in the river is still prohibited. Test results indicate bacteria levels lower than 320 MPN, the limit for REC-1.

Users should exercise increased caution. Test results indicate bacteria levels between 320 MPN (REC-1) and 576 (Limited REC 1) at one or more of the sampling sites located in the recreation zone or above 576 at only one of the sites.

This LA River Recreation Zone is not suitable for recreational activities. Test results indicate levels exceeding 576 MPN (Limited REC-1) at two or more of the sampling sites located in the recreation zone. A Closure Advisory will be issued by the City of Los Angeles and the MRCA will close the recreation zone and post closed signs. The recreation zone will stay closed until further bacteria testing show that the zone is once again suitable for recreational activities.