Glendale Narrows

The Glendale Narrows is an approximately seven-mile long section of the Los Angeles River adjacent to Griffith Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, and Elysian Valley.^[1] It is one of four sections of the Los Angeles River that has an earthen bottom. As a result, the area is popular with local fishermen and birdwatchers. The only way to cross the Glendale Narrows is by crossing the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge which goes from Atwater Village to Franklin Hills.

Flora and Fauna

The Narrows have a range of bird species, including the great egret, snowy egret, great blue heron, double-crested cormorant, American white pelican, mallard, cinnamon teal, northern shoveler, American coot, black-necked stilt, greater yellowlegs, spotted sandpiper, killdeer, black phoebe, red-winged blackbird, and the introduced Muscovy duck. It also serves as a stopover for migrating birds such as the Canada goose. Although the Glendale Narrows has a wide variety of birds, hunting is illegal. Violators are subject to a $550 fine.

Among the fish and crustaceans found in the area are introduced species such as common carp, largemouth bass, tilapia, green sunfish, black bullhead, catfish, fathead minnow, mosquito fish, and crawfish. Historically, the Narrows were home to native populations of rainbow trout. Due to the abundance of marine life, fishing is legal year round.

The Narrows also serve as a water source for many other animals which include white-tailed deer, domesticated horse, king snake, and beaver. Before development in the 20rh century, animals such as mountain lion, Mexican gray wolf, and the extinct California grizzly bear also relied on the river. The indigenous Tongva people used the river as a vital resource.

Graffiti

The Glendale Narrows is also an area that has a lot of local graffiti which are on the concrete sides and on the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge. The Rascals are a local gang which has tagged graffiti in a lot of areas of the Glendale Narrows.

References