Today, the California State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Storm Water Program is launching “Slow the Flow: Be a California Water Warrior,” a seven part follow-up film series following up on the Water Board’s 2011 (30-minute) film, “Slow the Flow: Make Your Landscape Act More Like a Sponge.” Each of the films falls between 5-7 minutes. A new one will be released every second Tuesday (every two weeks) over the course of the summer of 2014. The films will be release on the Stormwater Program's website (click here) and on their YouTube Channel (click here).
Today's film covers an overview of what stormwater (aka, rainwater) runoff is. To be notified of when the next films are released, you can “like” the Storm Water Program's Facebook page - click here. The schedule is listed below.
The films are promoting the Ocean Friendly Gardens criteria landscapes and hard surfaces: “In this time, when much of California is facing drought and limited water supplies, these seven films bring to life simple practices that individuals and communities can do to conserve water, become stewards of our watersheds, and slow the flow of storm water from homes and businesses. The “Slow the Flow: Be a California Water Warrior” series focuses on low impact development practices and projects anyone can do on or around their property, such as alternatives to a lawn based garden, proper management of lawns (if you must have one), disconnecting your down spouts, adding bioswales and rain gardens, and converting paved areas to more permeable surfaces.”
Surfrider chapters could link to the films as “resources” on their OFG webpages. Chapters could also show the films at a chapter meeting and OFG Committee meeting. OFG activists could contact your state, county or city - and fellow non-profits - to suggest they promote the films. Here's the film release schedule:
June 24 - Lawn Removal - Lawn be Gone
July 8 - Make the Water Go - Disconnecting Down Spouts
July 22 - Lawn practices - Grass can Always be Greener
August 5 - Soils - Digging Up the Dirt on Soil
August 19 - Permeable Pavers - Breaking Up is Easy to Do
September 2 - Swales and Rain Gardens - Swales are Swell and So Are Rain Gardens