My observation is merely anectdotal.  When I ported in Cartegena, Spain (Mediterranean) in the late '80's, I observed a river passing through that city.  It was over 200 meters across, and had substantial (wheeled traffic supporting) bridges traversing it.  The unusual thing about it was that when arrived in the winter that the river appeared to fill the whole bed, but by summer the bed was a long grassy strip through the city with a 1-2 meter wide trickle running down the side.  The grassy riverbed was a welcome touch in that relatively arid region.  We often saw soccer matches being played in the river bed (there were goals and lines).  If memory serves me, judging by the height of the bridges, the river was 4 or 5 meters deep when high.  Perhaps this is the effect that is desired for LA and its river.

Lou Novak
---------------------- Forwarded by Louis E Novak/CESAJ/SAJ02 on 08/31/2000 07:04 AM ---------------------------
From:   Van Langenhove Guido <LangenhoveG@mawrd.gov.na> on 08/31/2000 02:21 AM
To:     Adam Davidson <adam@adamdavidson.com>@SMTP@Exchange, rivers-list@iahr.org@SMTP@Exchange
cc:     
Subject:        RE: Rivers-List: Reporter seeking river expert

Don't build cities in floodplains.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Adam Davidson [SMTP:adam@adamdavidson.com]
> Sent: 30 August 2000 19:20
> To:   rivers-list@iahr.org
> Subject:      Rivers-List: Reporter seeking river expert
>
> Hello,
>
> I am writing an article for Metropolis Magazine
> (www.metropolismag.com)
> about the Los Angeles River.  I am seeking experts who can help me
> compare
> the LA River to similar river systems in other parts of the world.
>
> Specifically, the LA River is in a semi-arid Mediterranean climate.
> It is
> dry for much of the year and then experience dramatic winter flooding
> which,
> in the past, has caused it to shift beds frequently over a gigantic
> flood
> plain.  Much of the city of Los Angeles is built inside that flood
> plain.
> As a result, the US Army corps of engineers has created a concrete
> channel
> to force the river to stay in place and to mitigate floods.  A group
> of
> environmental activists is hoping to create parkland along the river
> and to,
> eventually, remove the concrete channel and allow for natural
> flooding.
>
> I'd like to learn of similar river systems around the world and how
> they
> have been handled from an aesthetic, engineering, damage-control,
> environmental standpoint.  I would be grateful for any information you
> might
> have.
>
> If you do have thoughts, please email me at adam@adamdavidson.com.
>
> Yours,
> Adam Davidson
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-
>
> Adam Davidson
> 672 S. Lafayette Park Place, Suite 25
> Los Angeles, CA  90057-3234
>
> (213) 480-0606
> F (213) 383-2695
> adam@adamdavidson.com