SPD Commander Col. Pete Helmlinger (far right) and James Dalton (second from left), Director of Civil Works, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, join Los Angeles District (SPL) Commander Col. Kirk Gibbs (third from left) and other staff at a tour of Los Angeles River sites The Bowtie and Taylor Yard during January 19. During the visit, they learned more about the LA River Ecosystem Restoration Project, which will restore approximately 11 miles of the river from Griffith Park to Downtown Los Angeles while maintaining existing levels of flood risk management. The Los Angeles River is the 51 -backbone of an 870-mile watershed.