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Draft:Melanie Winters The River Project

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Melanie Winter ~ The River Project

Melanie Winter is the founder and director of The River Project.[1], a non-profit dedicated to just and equitable watershed-based, climate-resilient planning in Los Angeles. She’s been involved in water and land-use policy for 25 years, serving on numerous local and statewide boards and advisory committees such as the City of Los Angeles Biodiversity Plan Working Group & Biodiversity Expert Council (2017-23)[2].

Ms. Winter has been instrumental in securing hundreds of millions in funding for the LA River. She spearheaded the Coalition for a State Park at Taylor Yard, whose success led to the acquisition and development of Rio de Los Angeles State Park[3]. She was one of a handful of intrepid souls to (illegally) complete the Los Angeles River Expedition, a 3-day excursion which secured the river’s protection under the Clean Water Act[4]

The River Project partners with agencies, academia, NGOs, and local communities to design and implement holistic policies, projects and programs that multi-solve for climate and other intersecting challenges[5]

The River Project led the effort to create Rio de Los Angeles State Park, developed the award- winning Tujunga/Pacoima Watershed Plan, and created the innovative urban acupuncture program, Water LA. Other projects include:

  • A feasibility study for restoration of the LA River and Tributaries through the Sepulveda Basin
  • Development of a hydrodynamic model for Tujunga Wash which was adopted by the US Army Corps of Engineers, co-producing with the Dutch[6] the “Room for the River," Los Angeles Symposium[7], which explored the role of the river in an era of climate uncertainties
  • Creation of the Valleyheart Greenway in Studio City, CA[8]
  • Development of a surface and groundwater model for the LA River through the Elysian Valley; which continues to inform planning efforts at Taylor Yard
  • Development of the framework for the “Paddle the River” program[9]
  • Invasives removal and restoration of habitat throughout the LA River in Sepulveda Basin
  • Several whitepapers on Distributed Nature-Based Solutions that informed the development of Measure W[10]
  • The creation of the interpretive projects at Rio de Los Angeles State Park.

The River Project's Tujunga/Pacoima Watershed Plan received the American Planning Association’s “Innovation in Green Community Planning” award in 2009[11]. They have partnered with the local governments to implement several of the projects identified in that plan, including the 3⁄4–mile Woodman Avenue Median Retrofit and Water LA – a program to engage homeowners in retrofitting their properties for climate resilience. Most recently, they developed the technical feasibility study articulating the numerous benefits of restoring ecosystem and floodplain function to 8 miles of river and tributaries through the Sepulveda Basin.

Prior to founding The River Project, Melanie was the first executive director of Friends of the Los Angeles River[12], where she produced the River Though Downtown Conference, designed their education and water quality monitoring programs, tripled their membership and budget, and brought significant national attention to the Los Angeles River.

A Burbank native and lifelong autodidact with wide-ranging interests, she spent 15 years working in NYC on and off-Broadway as an actor, dancer, choreographer, and photographer. Her return to Los Angeles coincided with the Rodney King verdict, prompting her commitment to social justice activism. She helped found the Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance, and has produced events and raised funds for Sunset Hall, Women’s Action Coalition, Planned Parenthood, Bohemian Women’s Political Alliance (whose slogan was ‘Good Politics – Bad Attitude’), the ACLU, Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, and National Public Radio, among others.

In October 1993, she created the “War Mammorial”[13] – an installation consisting of 1,000 plaster casts of women’s torsos set on a sloping hillside. The number of casts reflected the number of women who die of the disease in LA County every year. The piece kicked off National Breast Cancer awareness month and received national media attention.

Ms. Winter is featured in the book “Edens Lost & Found,” published by Chelsea Green[14]. She has appeared in numerous documentary films about the Los Angeles River including “Becoming California,”[15] “Los Angeles: Dream of a Different City,”[16] “Rock the Boat,”[17] and “Eyes on the Sky.” In 2012, she was featured as one of KCET’s “Extraordinary Women.” In 2006, she was honored as “Woman of the Year” by Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg. In 2005, the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society presented her with their Conservation Award. In 2003, she was honored by Sunset Magazine as the first recipient of their environmental award “Champions of the West.”[18] In 2000, the USDA presented her with an award for her “tenaciousness in bringing about an integrated watershed vision for the Los Angeles River.”[19]

  1. ^ "Home". The River Project. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  2. ^ sanitation.lacity.gov https://sanitation.lacity.gov/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-es/s-lsh-es-si/s-lsh-es-si-bd/s-lsh-es-si-bd-bp?_afrLoop=2561536643058847&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=xhHZUgCH&_adf.ctrl-state=zor24kwpo_1#!@@?_afrWindowId=xhHZUgCH&_afrLoop=2561536643058847&_afrWindowMode=0&_adf.ctrl-state=zor24kwpo_5. Retrieved 2024-10-29. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ Parks, California State. "Rio de Los Angeles State Park State Recreation Area". California State Parks. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  4. ^ "Melanie Winter: Director of The River Project". PBS SoCal. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  5. ^ "Resilient Los Angeles" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Room for the River Programme | Dutch Water Sector". www.dutchwatersector.com. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  7. ^ "Room for the River Symposium". The River Project. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  8. ^ "Valleyheart Greenway". The River Project. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  9. ^ "Paddle The La River On SUP - Stand Up PaddleBoard and Accessories". 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  10. ^ "Measure W". lachamber.com. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  11. ^ "History". The River Project. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  12. ^ "folar.org | Friends of the LA River". Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  13. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (1994-10-10). "Breast Cancer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  14. ^ "Edens Lost & Found".
  15. ^ kit tyler (2022-11-29). BECOMING CALIFORNIA. Retrieved 2024-10-29 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ Stash - Free Documentaries (2024-07-23). Los Angeles Dream a Different City | Edens Lost & Found | S1E2 | Full Episode | Air Quality. Retrieved 2024-10-29 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Mercouffer, Thea (2012-10-04), Rock the Boat (Documentary, Adventure, History), Cinema T, Lion's Heart Entertainment, Magic Pebble Media, retrieved 2024-10-29
  18. ^ "Melanie Winter: Director of The River Project". PBS SoCal. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  19. ^ "Recognition and Awards | USDA". www.usda.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
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