The Storm Downstream

After Dr. Peter DeFranco began noticing that stormwater pollution was streaming from a nearby development into a neighborhood lake, he decided to take action by collecting water samples and documenting the visible environmental effects. This is the story of an individual trying to make a change in his own backyard, and the important role of citizen enforcement in reporting stormwater violations in the absence of action by state and local agencies.

Take Action: Issue an official complaint with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management about a particular problem, such as stormwater violations.

Take Action: Alert the Cahaba River Society staff, who will conduct field investigations and provide reports to the appropriate agency, if you notice a problem occurring in the Cahaba or one of its tributaries.

Take Action: Attend a public hearing in your area to advocate for better water quality standards.

About the Director

Originally from Watsonville, California, Jesseca received a B.A. in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2014. She is currently attending Northwestern’s M.F.A in Documentary Media program. Her films have screened at the Santa Cruz Film Festival, the California State Monterey Bay Film Festival, the Speechless Film Festival, the AUBG International Student Film Festival, and have been used as a tool by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District to promote tolerance and diversity among the high schools.

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