April 3, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

October Rain Causes Weird First Flush At Santa Monica Beach:

Santa Monica High School teacher and coach of Team Marine Benjamin Kay said of his six years documenting the first flush of plastic pollution flowing out of the Pico Kenter Storm Drain, Wednesday’s was the weirdest.

“Usually, it takes four to six hours of consistent rain for enough rainwater to exit the storm drain, pool parallel to the shore on the dry sand, build up pressure, and then breach the sand bar at the intertidal zone,” Kay said. “When breached, pooled water often takes on the look of a raging river, which can catapult the heaviest beach trash can into the ocean.”

Kay said the one or two solid hours of rain on Wednesday was enough water to push over the storm drain sand onto the beach and cause the sand bar by the shore to give way a little – unplug the drain.

“Untold amounts of plastic entered the ocean, but luckily, the volume of water released by this storm was not enough to carve a deep pathway from the drain directly to the ocean,” he said. “That will happen later though during the second or third flush. Instead the water exited the mouth of the drain, pooled across the sand with its plastic pollutants, and then slowly drained out through a narrower pathway to the ocean thereby leaving behind a graveyard of plastic pollutants and black soot on the once dry sandy beach.”

Unlike any year he and Team Marine has witnessed, a new maintenance tractor helped scoop up some of the larger items of debris Thursday morning.

“Personally, I welcome tractor technology, but the only true solution to reducing ocean gyre pollution is banning plastic packaging, especially plastic bags and styrofoam (polystyrene) products,” he said. “We clearly have both a packaging and a littering problem. Huge applause to Heal the Bay staff and volunteers who performed an emergency beach cleanup Thursday morning and to the students of Team Marine and Marine Biology class who cleaned up more after school.”

Click here to watch Kay’s first flush video from early Thursday morning.

Team Marine is an organization at Santa Monica High School dedicated to sound research and environmental advocacy.

in News
<>Related Posts

Levain Bakery to Open Venice Location with Special Guests and Charitable Twist

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Bigger Than a Cookie: Levain’s Venice Opening Is a Flavorful Fundraiser Levain Bakery, the cult-favorite cookie destination founded in New...

(Video) Check Out Bernie’s, a New Pop Up at Citizen Public Market in Culver City

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Made with fresh frozen fruit and a toasted merengue topping these flavors are irresistible. The pop up will be at...

Historic Beethoven Market Reopens as Community-Centric Restaurant

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Originally established in 1949, Beethoven Market was a grocery store serving the community for 75 years Beethoven Market, a longtime...

(Video) Palisades Art Gallery Owner on Relocating to Santa Monica

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Bruce Lurie Owned What Was The Only Fine Arts Space in Palisades. The Gallery Has Found a New Life in...

Mikomi Sushi Opens New Santa Monica Location

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

The new location continues Mikomi Sushi’s commitment to serving sushi, sashimi, and specialty rolls Mikomi Sushi, a well-regarded sushi restaurant...

From Cocktails to Coffee: U.S. Tariffs Threaten Imports, Jobs, and Your Grocery Bill

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Major Price Hikes Expected for Coffee, Wine, Chocolate, and Butter  A sweeping new set of tariffs announced by former President...

Hands Off the Phone: SMPD Launches Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

One Text Could Cost You: SMPD Goes Into Heightened Alert in April The Santa Monica Police Department is stepping up...

Board of Supervisors Votes to Break from LAHSA, Create Independent County Homeless Department

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

With Billions on the Line, LA County Moves to Centralize Homeless Response Los Angeles County is making a dramatic shift...

Montalvo Custom Tailors Offers Complimentary Wardrobe Recovery Services to Fire Victims

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Tailoring Confidence: Montalvo Helps Residents Rebuild Wardrobes with Grace Montalvo Custom Tailors, a staple of luxury menswear in Los Angeles...

Caruso Sets Expected Timeline for Palisades Village Reopening: Report

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Caruso recently told a local outlet that bringing life back to the village is essential Palisades Village remains closed in...

County Moves to Clear Fire Debris from Unresponsive Properties

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

The County plans to launch additional efforts, using data and community partners to reach roughly 1,000 unresponsive owners The Los...

County Report Finds Malibu School District Proposal Fails to Meet Standards: SMMUSD

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

The LACOE feasibility study stems from a 2017 petition by the City of Malibu to form its own school district...

Nonprofit Warns of Heavy Metal Contamination in Santa Monica Bay

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

The contamination is linked to storm runoff carrying toxic debris from burned structures and scorched land in the Palisades, Topanga,...

(Video) Spending an Afternoon at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Go To Pacpark.com For Tickets and More Information. Go To https://t.co/PUWlOc89JQ For Tickets and More Information.#amusementpark #rides #rollercoaster #summer #spring...

Matū Kai to Debut in Brentwood With Grass Fed Wagyu and Global Flair This Week

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Farm-To-Fork Beef, Wood-Fired Flavors, and Sustainability Meet on San Vicente The team behind Beverly Hills’ acclaimed steakhouse Matū will soon...