Community Corner

Oscar Worthy? Malibu Makes Short Films About Storm Drains

The mayor plays a surfer who steps in dog waste in one video. In another video, a mermaid is bathing on shore when the water turns to slime.

Malibu city officials celebrated Earth Day today by releasing four short films aimed at getting residents to think twice about what goes down Malibu storm drains and into the Pacific Ocean.

The public service announcements feature Malibu Mayor Skylar Peak and other residents highlighting the connection between pollutants such as car oil, animal waste, pesticides and construction debris and the ocean environment.

The Malibu area includes the largest area of Special Biological Significance in California, spanning from Latigo Point to past the city's western border to the Point Mugu area. These are areas that are monitored for water quality by the State Water Resources Control board as part of an effort to build a sustainable coastal environment.

Find out what's happening in Malibuwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We're so lucky here in Malibu to have the largest area of Special Biological Significance in the state of California and on the western coast of the Pacific," Peak said. "There are so many different animals from dolphins to sea urchins to the different kelp forests an everything else we have here in the city of Malibu offshore in our oceans."

Peak, who plays a surfer who steps in dog waste in one video, said the city and its residents need to do everything to keep that environment pristine.

Find out what's happening in Malibuwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In another video, a mermaid is bathing on shore when the water turns to slime.

"Unfortunately she comes across some of the affects of what the people are doing inland and she's none too pleased with it," said Jennifer Brown, Malibu's senior environmental programs coordinator.

The videos will air on the city's Channel 3, YouTube and the city's website.

The Earth Day event to unveil the videos featured a red carpet, a photo booth and a mock tattoo parlor.

--City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here