East Los Angeles

Well the map of East Los Angeles shows the ranges of heat surrounding the areas are mostly yellow and red. The yellow means that there aren’t a lot of trees and vegetation which can affect the temperature to go higher because the lack of CO2 absorption from the atmopshere, however, the red zones mean how that area are the busiest streets and with the most manufacturing businesses. Those manufacturing companies produce power which provides energy for homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, local markets, etc. The power plant has a great area to cover. The spatial geographic characteristics of heat islands in the area are 40 because there is only one power plant near East Los Angeles College. There really aren’t any mountains, parks, nearby beaches or rivers to cool down the area or for residents to access often. There aren't tall building surrounding the areas to create a current of air. The cooler area is Whittier narrows which is a huge park that has a pond, a lot of greenery, and there aren’t any factories near it, but only the 10 freeway is next to it. The trends are easy to spot because mostly all the map is yellow in the East Los Angeles area.

The Los Angeles River is unlike any other river. The natural waterway, so greatly altered that it is now sometimes maligned as mere “concrete ditch”, has an important past, present and future. The river is the nearest natural waterbody for many millions of people and the namesake river for the City and County of Los Angeles. Because the mainstem of 55 miles is mostly concrete -and much of the principal tributaries, are concrete- many may see the Los Angeles River only as a flood control channel. Since the 1950s, numerous epidemiological studies have been conducted around the world to investigate the possible links between swimming in fecal-contaminated waters and health risks. However, as shown in several large-scale epidemiological studies of recreational waters, other health outcomes such as skin rashes, respiratory ailments, and eye and ear infections are also associated with swimming in fecal-contaminated water. After two more destructive floods in the 1930s, Federal assistance was requested, and the Army Corps of Engineers took a lead role in channelizing the river. Channelization began in 1938, and by 1960, the project was completed to form a fifty-one-mile engineered waterway. The Los Angeles River was built to protect the Angelenos and to establish a relationship with the city and water, continue to have flood control, and to sustain wildlife.

Interview: He is a Amah Mutsun Ohlone (California Native) and Aztec heritage and that hold an M.A. in Counseling.  As a university counselor and Native Studies professor, he devoted his career to advocating for diverse communities and Native American families.  He is also an artist, musician, author, and illustrator. Recently he dedicated his life to the Museum of Sacramento talking about how being social and being connected with the wildlife can make a huge positive impact. This will lead to school campuses to educate more on environmental sustainability which will create a positive domino effect. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band is governed by our Tribal Constitution which was signed on June 9, 1991. Per our Tribal Constitution, our Tribal Council is comprised of 10 members. Included within these 10 council members is the Executive Council which is comprised of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. Per our constitution, Executive Council members are elected to a six year terms while Council Members are elected to four year terms.  All registered members over the age of 18 year of age or older and who are members in good standing are eligible to vote in our elections. The Mutsun Land Trust is currently being organized for the purpose of receiving conservation and cultural easements.  A goal of the Mutsun Land Trust is to clearly identify and develop the concept of “Land Stewardship” and to share this concept with other land conservation organizations.   These plants were provided to us by the creator as food, medicine, and for specific purposes.  Our stewardship goals include restoring the indigenous plants so they may serve the purpose for which they were provided and to allow them to fully complete their circle of life. The goal is to open his own section in the museum to educate the public about nature.

Interview:  Tashanda is applying innovative, relative, project and action based, environmental education at ECMS Inglewood as a Green Ambassadors Instructor. She develops human impact lessons that are adapted for her student population and provides engaging learning activities through garden-based education. Her continuous and relentless drive for ways to provide sustainable skills for communities that are often left behind, uninformed about local mandates, regulations and accessibility, has fueled her passion for teaching about environmental issues and sustainable solutions. The campus grows their own organic food in their own planted edible gardens. The school has hundreds of fruit trees which serve as free vending machines. The school lunches promote healthy growth and sustainability and it was provided by the school nutrition plus which are locally sourced foods and served on reusable lunch trays. She participates most of her years developing green ambassadors as an environmental education and empowering the young people to be the start of change to make a difference in other communities. The grades 6 to 10 are shown to develop leadership skills while addressing agricultural issues in their own communities all around southern California. Her goal is to incorporate field trips involving farms around southern California currently dealing with food security and solutions they are providing, so that the younger generation can see that agricultural issues are real, and they must be faced.

As a result, climate change has affected Los Angeles for longer periods of time, not only during the summers, but also the other seasons for uncontrollable weather patterns, wildfires, lack of social environment interaction, and food security. Education and social injustice have been a problem growing up because they are barely incorporating that into schools and communities. While growing up I remember I can be outside longer periods time without resulting any of skin problems, but as the temperature increases it has brought up other health problems. Yes, solar energy can be a solution, but not for everything, it will only go so far before it fails as well. Los Angeles is trying to find ways to adapt to the new precautions arising. We must act in all areas before we won't be able to stop it.

References:

ABT. (2023, July 17). Climate change and the Los Angeles’ homelessness response system. Abt Global.  https://www.abtglobal.com/insights/publications/report/climate-change-and-the-los-angeles-homelessness-response-system 

Adubon. (2024). How climate change will affect birds in California. Audubon.  https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees/state/us/ca 

Bland, A. (2023, February 7). Ground Zero: Rain brings little relief to California’s depleted groundwater. CalMatters.  https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2023/02/california-depleted-groundwater-storms/ 

California Regional Water Quality Control Board Los Angeles Region. (2010, July 15). Los Angeles River Watershed Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load. California State Water Resources Control Board.  https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/board_decisions/basin_plan_amendments/technical_documents/80_New/LARiverFinal/Staff%20Report%20LAR%20Bact%2015Jul10%20final.pdf 

Los Angeles. (2024). LA river history. Taylor Yard G2 Projects.  https://tayloryardriverprojects.lacity.gov/la-river/la-river-history 

UCLA. (2024). Urban agriculture in Los Angeles County: An assessment of public health benefits, production potential, and community access to local food. Sustainable LA Grand Challenge.  https://sustainablela.ucla.edu/research-portal/project/urban-agriculture-los-angeles-county-assessment-public-health-benefits