VIDEO: What happened when Diver Laura went live where the stormwater goes

| Environment | West Seattle news | Wildlife

One more video from our semi-stormy Saturday: If you missed “Diver Laura” James‘s live dive to the stormwater outfall in Cove 1 near Seacrest – here’s the video. She was streaming live via Periscope, hoping for a live look at the mesmerizing and sometimes horrifying sight of polluted stormwater runoff emerging into Puget Sound, but the rain chose that exact time for a break. There were still sights to see, and she’s added captioning for the narration recorded. You’ll also see good reasons not to ignore litter you might spot on the street – and some wildlife, too.

Sara October 16, 2016 (7:04 am)

The worst offenders of debris down the grates are commercial landscaping companies. I see landscaping employees everywhere using leaf blowers to blow everything down the grates. It’s a ubiquitous sight.

miws October 16, 2016 (7:22 am)

Wow. I was aware of how cigarette butts and other litter end up in the Sound via the storm drains, but this really showcases the issue of the impact of human littering on our marine environment and its inhabitants.

Thank You Diver Laura & Crew, and WSB!

Mike

Mike October 16, 2016 (8:03 am)

The amount of trash that probably showed up in Puget Sound last night must be crazy. Thank you to Diver Laura and the rest of the dive crew for making more people aware of the issues with litter and trash around town and the road ways.

NW October 16, 2016 (8:09 am)

Micro-litter is pretty difficult to document and put in perspective but it is a constant in this city, a hidden giant in that 5 inch space of the curbline, the gutter. I make it a point to thank the workers of the metro improvement district in downtown seattle that sweep and contain litter along the sidewalks and curbline, and go further explaining how they are rescuing litter from entering Puget Sound thru out falls. There are many fronts we can take from simply picking up litter when out for a walk or running errands to organizing community clean ups locally. This minimum wage earner would gladly make a genrous donation to a local school or organization out making a difference. This city also needs more garbage cans in an ever denser growing city. One last note is if you drive or walk on 4th ave south the 2 to 3 block stretch north of Spokane st you can see an abundance of micro litter that’s generated from garbage and recycle collection vehicles that doesn’t make it to the transfer station. Thanks for all your work Laura, I will keep doing my own part.

H October 16, 2016 (8:59 am)

I really respect the awareness and education outreach that you’re doing Diver Laura. :)

Neighbor October 16, 2016 (10:52 am)

We don’t need more trash cans. We need to change the mentality of smokers and others that they can be lazy and throw trash everywhere. Reduce your throwaway stuff, recycle, reuse and don’t throw stuff in an already full can! The government can’t take care of homeless people and you want additional trash cans for convenience?!

NW October 16, 2016 (12:47 pm)

Go to any local or otherwise 7-11 big chain grocers and retailers you will find zero marketing towards smokers with pocket ash tray to contain cigarette butts on their person. All of these apartments being built and already established have a no smoking policy onsite and I believe even in front on the public sidewalk, I believe people have a right to smoke. These apartments are on a national scale with the same policy a start would be for them to provide pocket ashtrays and using them also as a promotional tool. Homeless population or others who may have addiction to drugs or alcohol and are doing what they can to stay off of it ,live sober under extreme living condtions, if they choose to smoke it’s almost the lesser of two evils.