Protecting the LA River in a Changing Climate · LA Climate Week 2026
On April 17, five of the region's most prominent LA River advocacy organizations are gathering for one afternoon to share their knowledge of the LA River and discuss its vital role in the future of LA's climate resilience.
While often collaborating on policy and advocacy initiatives, FoLAR, LA Waterkeeper, Heal the Bay, Wishtoyo Foundation, and PASSFL rarely all share the public stage together. This panel brings them together at Spoke Bicycle Café, Frogtown's legendary open-air oasis on the LA River bike path, to close out LA Climate Week with an honest conversation about what's working for the river, what's at stake, and where the community fits in.
Whether you've been fighting for the health of the LA River for years or just started paying attention after the recent wildfires, this is your chance to ask the people who know it best — then walk it with them.
Please come early to grab lunch & drinks on the patio as bikes roll by, and feel free to stay after the panel to rent one and cruise the River path yourself.
What We'll Cover
🌊 Watershed Health & Daily Life — Why the LA River corridor matters for water supply, urban cooling, wildlife & ecological health, flood risk, recreation, indigenous cultural practices, and how contamination reaches residents.
🏗️ River Revitalization: Progress & Stakes — What restoration efforts are underway, what's at risk from inaction, and how communities can expand and shape revitalization planning.
⚡ Climate Stressors & Exceedances — How storms, drought, and heat events can trigger pollutant exceedances, including SSFL runoff, bacterial blooms, and ocean impacts.
📋 Policy, Cleanup & Regulation — How applicable regulatory limits, government agency oversight, and water quality permits work -where the gaps are and how policy can drive cleanup.
🏆 Advocacy Wins & Where Efforts Stall — Proven models that deliver results, and the funding shortfalls, permitting delays, and development pressures still blocking progress.
🤝 Building Community Power Together — Cross-group alliances, knowledge sharing, and coordination strategies for stronger, data-driven environmental justice campaigns.
Format
Community networking → Expert panel → open Q&A discussion → community riverwalk along the LA River (~3:00 PM). Optional bike rentals available for a small fee.
Venue
Our venue, Spoke Bicycle Café, is a Frogtown institution -a shaded, open-air café and beer garden sitting directly on the LA River bike path, serving a menu of fresh, and incredible, vibrant food, specialty coffee, craft beer, and natural wine that makes you want to linger.
Spoke Bicycle Café is an urban oasis and the rare place that makes you feel like a better version of yourself just for showing up.
We appreciate your patronage of our venue partners.
Brought together for one afternoon:
Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) — For 40 years these river guardians fought to restore, protect, and reimagine the LA River as a living waterway for people and wildlife.
Los Angeles Waterkeeper (LA Waterkeeper)— For more than 30 years, LA Waterkeeper has led effort to confront LA's water crisis head-on. We fight to ensure every Angeleno has reliable access to clean and safe water by demanding urgen investments, innovative solutions and bold policy changes.
Heal the Bay — For over 40 years, Heal the Bay has been a leading environmental non-profit dedicated to making Greater LA coastal waters and watershed safe, healthy, and clean; along the LA River they monitor, measure, and translate water quality data into accessible information that empowers communities and drives science-backed solutions.
Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab (PASSFL) — 10+ years fighting for full cleanup of a former nuclear and rocket testing site whose contamination risk flows downstream into the watershed and toward the sea.
Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation — Wishtoyo brings Indigenous knowledge, cultural sovereignty, and Chumash leadership to every conservation and revitalization conversation.
Free admission and open to all. Bring your walking shoes, bring your questions, bring a neighbor.
Part of LA Climate Week 2026 — Designing Our Climate Future, Together.