Dinosaur Fountains' Spigots Turned Off Because of Drought

From a press release:

With California and the rest of the West Coast suffering from one of the most significant droughts in over 100 years, it’s time for both people and prehistoric beasts to send a conservational message.

As of Aug. 13, Third Street Promenade’s iconic dinosaur fountains, favorite photo-opp landmarks for visitors, have been shut down.

While the fountains pull from a pool of recycled water, DTSM, Inc. decided to use the fountains as a visual reminder that California is parched and all need make efforts to conserve water.

“The drought is a serious threat and we must be careful about every drop of water we use,” said Kathleen Rawson, CEO of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. “We have eliminated pressure washing in the parking structure, replacing that with methods that use far less water, and hope shutting down the fountains can serve as an effective public service message. Every little bit helps.”

This marks the first time the fountains have been shut down for an extended period of time since they were placed on the Promenade when it opened in 1989. Designed by Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne, they were selected following a public art competition held by the Santa Monica Arts Commission.

PHOTO Courtesy of Third Street Promenade.