Volunteers for Friends of the LA River roll up their sleeves to remove invasive mustard
Friends of the Los Angeles River held their Habitat Restoration Day, a community volunteer event designed to restore and protect the L.A. River watershed ecosystem. At the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, volunteers from FoLAR showed up to remove invasive mustard and learn how it impacts the ecosystem — and why clearing it is key to restoring native habitat.
Danette Bouzanquet, youth engagement manager, said, “I go to Habitat Restoration Day to give back to the land surrounded by community, and help right the wrongs of previous generations. But I always forget how good it feels for your mind and body too.”
Volunteers Alicia Kozikowski, left, and Martti Nelson remove invasive plants during a habitat restoration event at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteers Mercy Shrestha, left, and Naya Bender plant native vegetation during a habitat restoration event at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer Robert Grzesiak, left, speaks with volunteers Anne Abramson and Dominick Johnson during a habitat restoration event at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer Robert Grzesiak demonstrates how to plant native vegetation for other volunteers during a habitat restoration event at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer Ben Parnas wraps up a hose used to siphon water from nearby Haskell Creek to water newly planted native vegetation as volunteers plant native oak, sagebrush, California sage and lemonade berry to help restore chaparral habitat during a habitat restoration event at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteers remove invasive plants, water newly planted native vegetation and plant native oak, sagebrush, California sage and lemonade berry to help restore chaparral habitat during a habitat restoration event at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteers remove invasive plants during a habitat restoration event at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
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Volunteers Alicia Kozikowski, left, and Martti Nelson remove invasive plants during a habitat restoration event at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Ben Orbinson, director of strategic communications at Friends of the LA River, said, “I love Habitat Restoration Day because it gives people a chance to slow down, get outside, and connect with their neighbors. Everybody leaves a little tired, a little dirty, and in a little bit less stressed.”
He added, “Anybody who’s interested should joins us next month and see for themselves.”
