Quote Originally Posted by bombermwc View Post
Well first off, how do you think you're going to keep the grass happy? The water level fluctuates because, oh yea, it's a flood control device. So pull the water level down and the types of grass that do live off river water would die very quickly. Secondly, if you've ever had any sort of environmental science education, you'd know a few things to add to that arguement. 1 - straight line walls are terrible for marine life because they remove habitat. So if they city doesn't want fish there, it's better to keep the smooth edge. 2 - rough surfaces serve as habitats and wave breaks. When was the last time you saw a wave...not a ripple there too? The point for that one goes back to water level. This thing is NOT a river. It's a plugged up creek. People complain about it being the exact same way it has been for years and years because IT'S A FLOOD CONTROL DEVICE! You only notice it now because they plugged it to keep water it on a normal basis. It's #1 job is to channel all that crap for us...remember the "river" didn't even used to go where it is now either...we moved it when we made it mowable. There is absolutely nothing natural about the thing....had it been built 30 years later, chances are it would have been concrete lined!

The poo incident from the stockyards was caused by a company there not properly handling their runnoff. That sort of thing happens with any water source like this. Check out river polution near any industrial site. The company was fined and the problem was corrected. Yes, it still pulls runoff from yards to creeks, to the river and all sorts of other crap. But the water is not unsafe to be in. I wouldn't drink it, but i wouldn't recommend drinking any unfiltered water.

To be, it sounds like you're just trying to rant to throw a wet blanket on something the entire rest of the city seems to be onboard with. Let's leave the landscaping and the science of it all to the professionals who know far more than either you or I. Ands ince your name is LAsomeday....you should be happy we don't have the LA river here....cause that worked out so well for aesthetics...huh.
Actually I do have a degree in an environmental science. I never said lawns I said grasses, AKA Reed grass. It can take drought and swamp conditions. It attracts more fish and beneficial creatures than rocks. The banks could be tapered to reach the shores to allow people access to the waters. People like water! Although the water must be clean before that happens. What makes you think that I am not a professional in the matter? You obviously are not! The river would be more accessible to more people than just rowers if they made it more welcoming to people. Sure it will never be 100% natural, but it could at least look like a river. Just imagine taking your kids to the river to fish or float some boats. The river is dammed so it is more like a lake than a moving river.

I also never said anything about the stock yards. There have been studies that show runnoff from lawns into the concrete drainage system that dominates OKC causes a lot of the ecoli problems. This study had sample points before and after the stockyards.

LA doesn't stand for Los Angeles, but thanks for playing! I actually don't like Los Angeles.