Nov ‘23 Native Plants & Biodiversity Event at Rio De Los Angeles State Park

Saturday, November 4

2-5pm Rio De Los Angeles State Park

On Saturday, November 4, our chapter held a panel discussion about native plants, biodiversity, and the climate crisis with the LA Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance at Rio de Los Angeles State Park.

The panel was moderated by Climate Reality LA chapter chair Charles Miller, and featured speakers discussing water, habitat, native landscaping, and the benefits of supporting an urban ecosystem.  

Speakers:

• Kathryn Dressendorfer, Southern California Ocean Friendly Gardens Coordinator, Surfrider Foundation

• Casey terHorst, PhD, Professor of Biology, California State University, Northridge

• Phú Trầnchí, Director of Community Engagement and Experiential Learning at Oakwood School in North Hollywood

• Steven Williams, Conservation Biologist, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM)

• Eric Wilson, PhD, Green Infrastructure Program Manager, TreePeople

• Melanie Winter, Director, The River Project, Los Angeles

After the panel discussion, Charles and a park ranger gave a tour of the park’s wetlands restoration area. The afternoon ended with a native plant & tree giveaway.

Rio de Los Angeles State Park, just northeast of the LA River in Glassel Park, was opened in 2007 on the former site of Taylor Yards, a freight-switching facility used by Southern Pacific until 1985. A coalition of community groups helped win support for turning the site into the only state park in California with active recreation (managed by LA Parks).