Fremont, California, USA

Along the rail trail in Hurleyville, NY.

A soft fog blankets the shore of Kiamesha Lake.

Months ago, when Jimmy jumped down into one of these storm drains for the first time, I stood at the top on the grate and sobbed, called out to him and sobbed, opened cans of Fancy Feast and sobbed, dangled his cat dancer down to him and sobbed, laid down and reached my fingers towards him and sobbed ... you get the idea. After hours of this, I had to take a bathroom break and as I walked towards our place I saw Jimmy sitting next to our front door. Apparently there is a whole maze of drainage pipes underground and he surfaced at a different grate opening. I have since seen Jimmy and another cat jumping down into and out of these drains several times so no longer worry.

This evening, I was out following Jimmy and Mack around hoping for a photo op, when something startled them and first Jimmy, then Mack went jumping down the drain. Because I wasn't worried this time, I was just thrilled imaging the action shots of these guys jumping out of the drain. What an opportunity! What a shot! After a bit, Jimmy jumped out. I called for Mack (time for his pic!) and he just looked up at me and meowed pathetically. I called again, in a sort of "come on, don't be silly" tone of voice. He meowed again and looked from me to the opening of the grate then back to me. It suddenly ocurred to me that I had never seen Mack around the drainage grates. Now I got to panic all over again. Thankfully Mack didn't make me go through hours of agony. He jumped out after a few minutes of working up the courage.

And after all that, I didn't get very good pictures.

edward weston

A father and sun walking under Parramatta Bridge at night

Plastic bags and other debris catch onto railing of bike path after a big rain storm that raised the river water along Ballona Creek. Ballona Creek is a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Garbage accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Garbage accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

A Snowy Egret walks amongst garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

A double rainbow over storm water emptying from Storm Pipes into Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Sofa in Ballona Creek. Garbage accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Garbage accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

A Snowy Egret walks amongst garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Garbage accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Sofa in Ballona Creek. Garbage accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

A double rainbow over storm water emptying from Storm Pipes into Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Garbage accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year. Urban runoff from heavy rains carries an assortment of styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and bags and other trash that has built up on streets and catch basins since the last rains into the Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. While the boom catches some of this trash, smaller particles and many other pollutants still empty into the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Rain water empties from Storm Pipes into Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Heavy rains flow down streets into Street Gutters and Storm Drains and eventually Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Rain water empties from Storm Pipes into Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Grading plan "B" for the Walmart at 620 & 2222 in Austin, TX (4 points)

(COA Case #SPC-04-0048C) Circa 2005

Ballona Creek during Rain Storm and Normal Water Flow. Heavy rains can bring a dramatic rise to the water level in a short period of time. Ballona Creek is a nine-mile long flood protection channel that drains the Los Angeles basin. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Rain water empties from Storm Pipes into Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Rain water empties from Storm Pipes into Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Rain water empties from Storm Pipes into Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Grading plan "A" for the Walmart at 620 & 2222 in Austin, TX (4 points)

(COA Case #SPC-04-0048C) Circa 2005

Rain water empties from Storm Pipes into Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek is designed to discharge to Santa Monica Bay approximately 71,400 cubic feet per second from a 50-year frequency storm event. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Heavy rains flow down streets into Street Gutters and Storm Drains and eventually Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Storm drain plan & profile "A" for the CapMetro rail station located at M.L.K. in Austin, TX.

(COA Case #SP-2007-0409C). Circa 2008.

Courtyard storm drainage plan for Lakeshore Apartments located at 2220 Elmont Dr., Austin, TX. (COA Case #SP-2011-0114C). Plans were approved in 2011; Construction began late 2011/early 2012.

Heavy rains flow down streets into Street Gutters and Storm Drains and eventually Ballona Creek, a nine-mile waterway that drains the Los Angeles basin. Urban runoff carries an assortment of trash and debris from catch basins where a network of pipes and open channels create a pathway to the Ocean at Santa Monica Bay. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA. Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA