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Nature writer finds subject in Los Angeles River By
Leon D'souza
Jennifer Price addresses the O.C. Tanner Symposium. / Photo by Jason Sauter Many big cities in the United States are losing the little amount of nature they possess, and there is not greater example than the city of Los Angeles, according to Jennifer Price. Price is an environmental historian and a freelance writer whose work has been published in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, North America Review and American Scholar. She has also written a book called Flight Maps: Adventures with Nature in Modern America. Price's speech Thursday night in the Eccles Center at Utah State University focused on the nature in her hometown of Los Angeles, where she is one of the few resident nature writers. She talked about the importance of preserving and maintaining nature in urban areas. "Learning to use nature well is going to save our souls," said Price. When she brings up the subject of nature in Los Angeles, most people "look puzzled," said Price. Price thought the last place she would find nature would be Los Angeles. However, "there are millions of stories of nature in LA," said Price. Much of the nature in Los Angeles has been ruined and an example is the Los Angeles River. For 150 years the Los Angeles River was a main source of water for city residents. However, since 1910 it is becoming more of a forgotten historical landmark. "Most people in LA don't even know where the Los Angeles River is," said Price, even though it is over 51 miles long and goes through the heart of Los Angeles. Poverty, pollution, and lack of care have ruined the once-vital river, she said. Despite being empty and polluted in many parts of the river, "the LA River is still a river," said Price. Price believes it is important to restore nature to the Los Angeles River. She has a list of three things that need to happen in order for it to be restored. 'Green it -- parks need to be created to attract people. Clean it -- toxins and trash need to be removed from the river. And last -- the river needs to be controlled without the cement." She hopes one day that the Los Angeles River will be restored to a natural state. She is working on a new book about nature in Los Angeles.
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