Get Creative and Score a FREE T-Shirt!
Will this Stormwater Poem Get Your Creative Juices Flowing? A Stormwater Poetry Challenge? Write and Win!
We’ve closed an important chapter and started a new year
Yet there’s still much to do so we’re still in high gear!
But before we move on we thought we’d look back
2010 in review, stormwater unpacked.
We start with Prop O which saw lots of action
As a few River Projects finally got traction.
BMP chatter, Wetland conservation
And even a couple Green Street Presentations.
Speaking of Green Streets, there’s Riverdale too
Whose green reconstructions made their debut.
And we brought out an army to Playa Del Rey
An army of kids for Kids Ocean Day.
The plastic bag ban in LA County happened
As biblical rain left all of us dampened.
But rain is a resource as much as annoyance
Or it will soon be with the LID Ordinance.
23 (and counting) underground low flow diversions
And a NoHo retrofit alley conversion.
Yes, one year goes down and it’s on to another
With your help we’ll make 2011 great for our water.
Are your creative juices flowing? Want to give your own water poem a go? Put together a couplet, haiku, sonnet, epic, any sort of poem about LA water or stormwater in the comment box below. All entrants will receive a free clean water t-shirt and then we’ll pick a couple of our favorites to publish in the next issue of the LA Stormwater e-newsletter. Entries are due by end of February– we can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store!
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- Get Creative and Score a FREE T-Shirt! (47)
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LA Stormwater: Thanks so much for your question, Roxanne! The Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan deals with exactly that issue – …- LA Stormwater: Yes, absolutely, Andrew! Please send your request along with your mailing address to [email protected]. We’ll mail one right out to …
- LA Stormwater: Hi Tami,Unfortunately, we don’t have the infographic available any longer. We apologize for the inconvenience. We’ll be sure to update …
- roxanne spear: Hi all,If the Los Angeles River concrete was removed for three miles, say, down in North Long Beach at Compton …
- Andrew: Do you guys have anymore free LA River Posters? They look really cool!
- Tami: Hi! I don’t see the link to your infographic. Is it still available somewhere?
- LA Stormwater: Thanks for the feedback! This was the first one sponsored by the Santa Monica Baykeeper. It would be great if …
- paddle boarding huntington beach: I had no idea Santa Monica had a paddle board race! Will definitely try to check it out in the …
- LA Stormwater: Thanks for the great suggestion, Elizabeth! We agree that harvesting and using rainwater is vital to the health of our …
- Elizabeth Dougherty: I bet there’s some blue at the SMURRF, the San Monica Urban Run off (aka, stormwater) Recycling Facility, too! …
February 10th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
LA Stormwater knows what to do,
The LID Ordinance comes none too soon!
Rain is a resource, invaluable and real,
People of opposition will just have to deal!
If we think outside ourselves and see from above,
how can anybody review and declare “that’s enough!”
We need to be sustainable and protect our resources,
return to the earth, love bestowed upon us.
Do you part and act in good faith,
let’s work together for a greener, healthier place.
February 10th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Can’t tell where the verses are ‘spose to be submitted. Here’s mine…
Stormwater drops in the barrel
instead of out in the sea
bring home grown flowers and veggies
to thrifty gardeners like me.
February 10th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Rainwater flows downhill,
We must save this precious liquid,
but do we have the will?
The ocean is home to our fishes,
The land is home to us folks.
We must learn how to wash our dishes
So our kid’s future isn’t so dry.
Our sprinklers must be timed shorter
The shade trees must be grown tall.
We must share, recycle and reuse
And we must carpool and not be shy!
February 10th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
My poem:
Eating candy bar
Put wrapper in my pocket
Ocean is happy
February 10th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Clanking along with my water bottle.
Staying hydrated.
Landfills are happy.
February 10th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
If people had
as many
rain barrels
as phone apps…
February 10th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Water filters through
A grassy lined bioswale
Water is now clean
February 10th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
bags have no place here
oh we are the tide flows here and now
great blue heron dreams
February 10th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
If we get the rain to percolate into the ground,
Our water supply would abound,
Our conservation efforts would astound,
And by imported water we would not longer be bound!
February 10th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Once I felt gloom in Los Angeles rain,
And stayed dry inside, waiting out the cascades.
Now doors I fling open, sing joyous refrains,
Dance in the puddles, let cheerlessness fade.
The reason is this: a rain barrel have I,
A huge jar of plastic, shaped like a bean,
That sits in my driveway to capture the sky
And keep our town wetter and healthy and green.
February 10th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Keep the water clean
Or else I get MEAN
February 10th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Rain, the resource
Runs its course
Until the course runs over
And floods freeway shoulders
Then the program from LA Stormwater
Manages the flow without barter
So that the usuable that remains
Is clean and fresh, we ascertain
From the oceans and streams, rivers and the Bay
We thank the City of LA!
February 10th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Rain, the elixer of nature
So clean and so pure as can be
A gift to be respected and treasured.
As it moves from the clouds to the sea.
February 10th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Waterways of L.A. long ago
Scenes of beauty, life, and work
Tongva sipped waters pure
Frogs leaped from rock to shore
Birds bathed
Fowl floated
Fish swam
Sun rays bounced
Currents rippled and gurggled
and made
Stones roll merrily downstream
Shady oaks lined arroyos
Cienegas covered the flatlands
Lush wetlands welcomed wildlife
and so
Such was the way in L.A.
When the water ran free
February 10th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
H2O on Earth
Water is valuable
H2O we need
February 10th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Filling a trash bag
While walking my leaping dog
Keeps creeks, ocean clean.
February 10th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Silver flickering
catching sunlight in river
I see a hubcap
February 11th, 2011 at 7:31 am
Ignorance will not be my scuse
now I know about recycle and reuse
I will do my best to keep it clean
and keep it green
cheers to a wonderful future
February 11th, 2011 at 7:53 am
Birds feed at ocean’s edge
Dolphins, whales and surfers play
Clean water sustains
February 11th, 2011 at 9:11 am
If you catch your own runoff
you can shoot for the stars
and raise fish in a barrel
February 11th, 2011 at 10:15 am
Oh Stormwater, Rain Water, water
Those some Californian welcomes you
Others give you a blue whine
Regardless of what Californian thinks
Yearly you come refreshing our ground
For what you’ve done and will
We, the LA City cleans your way
Welcome you with a golden drain
‘Cause you’re our princess and prince
and ’cause we want to say thanks.
February 11th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Oh rain water, why wash down our streets,
Not be harvested and reused isn’t neat,
If everyone could collect a little they would see,
that their plants will be glowing .
with happiness
yes sir reee…
If people would care the planet would glow.
Having the City of LA give rebates
for home grey waters systems
would be so special you know.
Save the planet while you have time
or sit back and do nothing
with a glass of cheap wine!
February 11th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Hooray for LA LID.
We are happy for you here in BC.
Your efforts will be used to show,
what we can all do to manage rain, and in the case of BC … snow.
From: Surrey, BC (British Columbia), Canada
February 12th, 2011 at 9:30 am
The color of money has always been green,
but the forces of money caused the ocean to sheen
The public realized something must be done,
but this is not a crime that was a result of a gun
To truely correct and right the wrong,
we must all work together and just get along.
February 13th, 2011 at 2:11 am
Water is nice.
It’s better when it’s clean.
When it falls from the sky
it can be put it a container. Save it for later.
Where’s my shirt?
February 13th, 2011 at 2:17 am
Rain is fun.
Water is clear.
It’s good to be clear for fun.
February 14th, 2011 at 8:48 am
Keep it clean and green
For the next generation
So the diversity can be seen
February 14th, 2011 at 8:51 am
Water should be clear not the color of beer
February 14th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Haiku!
Clean streets are awesome
Reduces urban runoff
I love clean beaches!
February 14th, 2011 at 11:03 am
love the water,
love the sea,
oh how happy I’ll be
following all the rivers
keeping them clean
gives me the shivers.
February 14th, 2011 at 11:20 am
Stormwater runoff in LA city,
Can be loaded with bad stuff, can you say gritty?
Diligence is the key – we cannot snooze,
If even one slacks off – we ALL lose,
With a result that won’t be pretty.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
rain gurgles down gutter
captured in barrel
saving rainy day for later.
February 15th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
water sparkle bright
feeding birds and full of life
not greening my lawn
February 16th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Ode to the Stormwater Division, Two versions
When I thought of water resembling beer,
My initial thought was, ‘oh dear!’
But, with City folks at work,
As they cleared the murk,
My sad frown gave way
To a smile that day!
When one thinks of stormwater resembling beer,
The initial reaction may be “oh dear!”,
But with City folks hard at work,
Collecting, cleaning and disposing of murk,
That sad, sad frown soon fades away,
Replaced with a smile that very same day!
February 16th, 2011 at 10:39 am
I used to think, “Heal the Bay? –
Yeah, that will be the day.”
But thanks to the Stormwater Program
We’re on our way.
In neighborhoods big & small
Smart Stormwater Projects help our City stand tall
Thanks to native planting and river beautification for all,
Toxic brew is being replaced
with clean water, filtered at mother nature’s pace
February 16th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
To recycle our trash we have a plan,
To clean our air we do what we can,
To recycle our water just stop the flow,
Give it back to the ground and watch the world grow.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Don’t dump that used oil
Into the street my neighbor
Respect marine life
February 24th, 2011 at 11:00 am
My Haiku:
Storm drains are filling,
Rainfall batters the City,
Rain barrels needed.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Protect LA River & local creek
by keeping pollution off the street
Polluted stormwater harms the sea
So be aware; it’s up to you and me
Clean up street before the rain
So it won’t end up in the storm drain
In place of asphalt, concrete and brick
Plant a tree; use your shovel and pick
Help urban run off with rainwater harvest
Also because of drought in the west
Participate in a beach clean up day
Help marine life and “Heal the Bay”
February 25th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Respect our water
hold yourself accountable
throw away your trash
February 27th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
Cool, Fresh, Sparkling, Clear,
All the year through,
Strongly pulling through the swell,
Swimming like this completes you.
It makes you, every week, every day,
But Oh-Oh – raining today:
No swim tomorrow,
Or the days after,
Yet.
February 28th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
heavy winter rains
coming down for days, non stop
brings much needed water
March 1st, 2011 at 9:56 am
Thank you all for participating in our poetry challenge! Great job coming up with awesome and fun to read poems! Make sure to be on the lookout for an email requesting for your name and mailing address so we can send you a FREE clean water t-shirt!
January 24th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Clean the water
Save the whales
Fill your pails
Do your part
And soon you should start
For the longer we go
While the oceans a-flo
The cleaner the ocean will be
January 25th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Hi Karsen, Thanks for submitting a stormwater poem! This contest has ended, but you’re in luck because we are currently running a Clean Water Video contest where you can win a FREE T-shirt! All you have to do is answer 5 easy LA Stormwater video questions and you’ll win a FREE T-shirt! Submit your answers in the comment section of the post: http://www.lastormwater.info/blog/2011/12/19/la-stormwater-video-trivia/