Few urban rivers in the United States escaped significant modification during the 20th century, but the Los Angeles River might be among those transformed the most. Severe flooding in the 1930s prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to convert nearly all of the 51 mi (82 km) long river into a concrete-lined channel for conveying floodwaters. Largely devoid of vegetation and bordered mainly by commercial and industrial properties, the river today is known mainly as a backdrop in movie scenes involving car chases. However, the City of Los Angeles aims to change this perception by returning the river to a more natural state.
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