South Gate charts new course to rear native fish that thrived before L.A.’s explosive growth

The city of South Gate plans to build a hatchery for rare native fish on a weedy expanse overlooking a concrete stretch of the Los Angeles River. The city of South Gate plans to transform a weedy and rutted field overlooking an industrialized stretch of the Los Angeles River into a sylvan retreat boasting a nursery for rare native fish that thrived before the explosive growth of Southern California after World War II. The city of South Gate plans to build a hatchery for rare native fish including arroyo chubs and genetically pure lineages of rainbow trout on a weedy expanse overlooking a concrete stretch of the Los Angeles River. “Our goal is to showcase new ways to consider the potential value of undeveloped land along the concrete L.A. River channel.” Nodding toward the thorny expanse of waist-high weeds, she added, “A few years from now, this place will be teeming with insects, birds, rare fish, biologists and visitors from throughout the region.” Designs by the Los Angeles landscape architecture firm Studio-MLA, the project will feature pedestrian paths and bridges, educational centers and a community plaza shaded by 300 oaks, cottonwoods, sycamores and fruit trees.