CITY OF RENO NEWS — A new campaign, “Storm Drains are the Mouth of the River”, uses public art to draw awareness to protecting the Truckee River. Storm drains, which collect all runoff from storm water to irrigation overflow, are entry points into the Truckee River. The campaign uses public art to perpetuate a storm drain as a mouth. As in, we wouldn’t put radiator fluid, oil, or glass in our mouths, so we shouldn’t put them in the River’s mouth.
The Truckee River is enjoyed for its beauty, its fun, its fish…and “urban slobber” is in fact, one of the biggest challenges it faces. Lawn chemicals, pet waste, petroleum, trash, etc., are dangerous pollutants that threaten its ecosystem and Reno’s primary source of drinking water.
The campaign has been put together by the City of Reno partnering with the City of Sparks, Washoe County, the Western Regional Water Commission, and the Reno Arts and Culture Commission. The group has commissioned Bryce Chisolm, Public Artist, to paint a mouth on a downtown storm drain. The painting will take place at 6pm on Friday, July 12, 2013 on the Truckee River Walk near the Riverside Theater. The event is in congruence with Artown and the Rollin’ on the River concert series.
For more information on the Regional Stormwater Quality Management Program, please visit tmstormwater.com.
