Reality Check: The Los Angeles River Can Still Flood

"Los Angeles this week received a stark reminder that the river that cuts through the region — much of the year just a trickle — can become a dangerous torrent during periods of intense rain," according to an article by Ben Poston.

The report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found "more than 3,000 parcels north of downtown Los Angeles in neighborhoods such as Atwater Village and Elysian Valley could be submerged by an average of 5 to 10 feet of water in the event of a 100-year storm," reports Poston. Parts of Griffith Park, Glendale, and Burbank are also at risk of significant flooding.

The report means property owners with federally backed mortgages will be required to purchase flood insurance, and new developments will have to conform to new building regulations.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prepared the report as a step toward the massive river restoration project underway in Los Angeles.