Watersheds Alliance, local artists paint storm drains

Arnada — In an effort to raise awareness about storm drains, the Vancouver Watersheds Alliance collaborated with local artists on a project to get the drains noticed more. The original plan called for 36 murals to be painted on Sept. 18, but rain canceled that plan, and a few follow-ups. Eventually, the alliance and artists worked to get the murals done whenever the artists could work on them. The final murals were painted Oct. 12, making 18 total. The alliance awarded grants to the Arnada, Hough and Esther Short neighborhood associations to cover costs. “We used art to relay the message of ‘drains to River,’ ” Sunrise O’Mahoney, executive director of the alliance, wrote in an email. “Everything that flows down Main Street, and downtown Vancouver, goes directly into the Columbia River untreated and unfiltered. We want to help bring awareness to the community about what a storm drain is and where everything that flows through it goes. This is not something many of us think about, but is very important for the health of our creeks and rivers.” O’Mahoney wrote that she thought vibrant street art would be a good way to bring attention to the drains. She’s hopeful the alliance can secure funding to paint more murals in the future. For more information about the alliance, go to www.vancouverwatersheds.org.