Without water, there is no life. Join a young woman on a journey of a lifetime to reconnect to the source of water for her, and millions of others.
In the feature-length film The Longest Straw, director Samantha Bode and crew will spend seventy days backpacking the 338 mile path of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, including the Mono Extension.As they trek, they will speak with historians, community leaders and residents of Los Angeles, the Owens Valley and Mono Basin to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of water importation on ecology, economy, and society, as well as the future of local water sources for Los Angeles. The Longest Straw is a film which draws a connection between the water that supports a city and that water's source. California is currently suffering the worst drought the state has seen since record-keeping began over a century ago. Los Angeles is one of the top cities in America for water conservation, yet statewide outdoor watering restrictions and two declarations of drought emergency by Governor Brown go unnoticed by many Angelenos. Swimming pools are brimming, driveways are power washed, and automobiles sparkle in the Southern California sun while 28 communities in the state are at risk of going dry, and three of its largest reservoirs are only at 30 percent capacity. The Longest Straw aims to heighten Angelenos' awareness that the water sources they draw from are shared by various communities throughout the state of California and beyond, and the only way to a sustainable water future is through more local water sources.
The Longest Straw draws a connection between the water that supports a city and that water's source. Samantha Bode (director) moved to Los Angeles and immediately fell in love with the abundant sunshine, the warm air, and the exotic plants of Southern California. But, she noticed within the city of Los Angeles the plants were very much like her native North East Pennsylvania. Green grass and tall trees grew everywhere, but there was no obvious source of water and it rarely ever rained. Where did all the water come from?To learn more about the original source of Los Angeles' water, Samantha embarks on a journey up the Los Angeles Aqueducts and the Mono Extension, the original source of Los Angeles' water. During one of the worst droughts in California history, Samantha laces up her boots and sets off at the Los Angeles Aqueducts Cascades in Sylmar, CA. The audience follows her north and east for 65 days as she struggles through the rugged terrain of the Mojave and Great Basin deserts and loses herself in the shadow of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. She speaks with historians, community leaders and local residents, as well as employees of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the operators of the city's aqueduct. Through Samantha's inquisitive nature, the audience gains a deeper understanding of the economic, ecological, and societal impacts of water importation and deportation on communities, as well as the future of Los Angeles' water.The Longest Straw emphasizes the need for more local water sources in Los Angeles through reuse and conservation, storm water capture, native landscaping, and grey water and black water education and treatment. The aqueduct can be viewed as a microcosm for ecological and resource struggle around the world. Too often in the world of instant gratification humans mistake temporary abundance for never-ending supply. The Longest Straw heightens awareness that the resources that civilization uses to thrive and survive are often shared by various communities; human, animal, and plant. By working together, humanity can ensure the future of reliable freshwater for all.