As cities across California and the Western United States invest billions of dollars to modernize infrastructure and address climate change, a powerful opportunity has emerged: bringing nature into the built environment. Conservation-focused landscape construction—rooted in natural systems and ecological performance—is no longer an alternative approach. It is becoming essential infrastructure.
One of the most compelling examples of this shift is the Bowtie Wetland Demonstration in Los Angeles, a landmark urban restoration project led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) along the Los Angeles River. Landscape Development, Inc. (LDI) is proud to have contributed landscape construction expertise to projects of this nature—work that reflects where the industry is heading and where communities need us most.
Redefining Urban Infrastructure Through Nature-Based Solutions
Traditional urban infrastructure has long relied on “gray” systems—pipes, channels, and hardscape—to move stormwater and manage risk. The Bowtie Wetland Demonstration shows a different path forward: hybrid infrastructure that integrates engineered systems with living landscapes.
Located on a former rail yard site along the L.A. River, the Bowtie Wetlands transform underutilized land into a high-performing public asset. Stormwater is diverted from a nearby drain, treated underground to remove sediment and pollutants, and then released into a constructed wetland. Native plants and soil systems provide additional filtration before clean water is reused onsite for irrigation, wildlife habitat, or returned to the river.
This approach delivers multiple benefits at once:
Improved stormwater quality
Reduced urban heat
Increased drought resilience
Carbon storage and habitat creation
Public access to open space and walking paths
These outcomes are exactly what nature-based climate solutions are designed to achieve—and they require a landscape construction partner with deep technical knowledge and execution experience.
The Bowtie Wetlands: A Model for Scalable Urban Conservation
The Bowtie project is more than a single site—it is a proof of concept for how conservation, infrastructure, and community needs can coexist in dense urban environments. TNC’s broader strategy focuses on creating replicable models that cities can scale regionally and nationally.
Key elements of this strategy include:
Science and Demonstration
Demonstration projects like Bowtie provide measurable data that shows how natural systems perform when integrated with infrastructure. These projects help validate design assumptions, inform policy, and guide future investment.
Partnerships for Large-Scale Impact
Urban conservation requires coordination across public agencies, nonprofit organizations, designers, engineers, and builders. Meaningful engagement with surrounding communities—especially those most vulnerable to climate impacts—is critical to long-term success.
Funding and Policy Incentives
While nature-based solutions save money over time, they require thoughtful planning and upfront investment. Establishing funding mechanisms and policy incentives helps remove barriers and accelerates adoption across cities and regions.
LDI’s Role in Conservation-Focused Landscape Construction
Projects like the Bowtie Wetlands align closely with Landscape Development, Inc.’s construction capabilities and field expertise. Our teams are experienced in delivering complex, environmentally sensitive projects that demand precision, coordination, and accountability.
Our conservation and climate-resilient construction experience includes:
Constructed wetlands and stormwater treatment systems
Native habitat restoration and soil remediation
Biofiltration basins and natural drainage solutions
Urban river corridors and open-space development
Coordination with environmental agencies and CEQA-driven projects
LDI understands that conservation work requires more than installation—it requires respect for ecological systems, careful sequencing, regulatory awareness, and long-term performance thinking. That’s how we deliver peace of mind to public agencies, nonprofit partners, and communities alike.
Looking Ahead: Conservation at Urban Scale
The Bowtie site will continue to evolve through future phases, including expanded habitat areas, passive recreation, community amenities, and river-adjacent trails that strengthen the connection between people and place. These next phases further reinforce the vision of urban landscapes that work harder—environmentally, socially, and economically.
As cities look for solutions that address climate resilience, water quality, heat mitigation, and public access in one integrated system, conservation-driven landscape construction will play a central role.
Landscape Development, Inc. is committed to advancing this work—partnering with agencies, designers, and conservation organizations to help shape the next generation of urban infrastructure through nature-based solutions.
