How is climate change affecting the quality of water resources we rely on?
Rain is essential for healthy ecosystems, but too much of it can create challenges for water quality. In this episode, Ami explores how changing rainfall patterns are affecting lakes and rivers in Wisconsin. She learns how runoff carries nutrients and pollutants from land into waterways, leading to issues like algal blooms and declining water clarity. Through conversations with scientists, students, and community members, this episode looks at how watersheds connect our actions to the health of our lakes, and how local efforts, including citizen science, are helping monitor and protect these shared resources.
Let's take a look
Questions to consider
How do our actions at home and in our communities impact waterways and the ecosystems they are part of? How might we take steps to be better stewards of those waterways?
Why is it important for community members to get involved in efforts to learn about and protect our waterways?
Where does rainfall go on your street and in your neighborhood? What happens to it and how do you know?
Meet the Changemakers
Get to know the historians. Each historian in this episode has a card with information about that historian.
There are 4 cards to read.
David Ortiz
Limnologist
I study lakes and wetlands to protect water quality and plant community health.
Brian Counselman
Environmental Science Teacher
I’m a science teacher and project based learning coordinator for Shabazz, connecting students with the outdoors and the broader community.
Paul Dearlove
Deputy Director & Chief Science Officer
I am the Deputy Director & Chief Science Officer at the Clean Lakes Alliance. I try to reduce pollution and improve the health of lake ecosystems.
Stella Gomez Phillips
Citizen Scientist
I am a student, artist, and environmental advocate.
Ask questions!
Go deeper with this episode. These video extras extend the story with real-world examples, expert insights, and close-up looks at the science and solutions behind the ideas you just explored.
Click on a tab above to begin.
How does pH reveal what’s happening in our water?
What is a watershed?
View Transcript: English Transcript
Quote from a historian
“If you don’t know a thing, you’re not going to care about it. If you don’t care about it, you’re not going to protect it.”
Brian Counselman
Bibliography
Hayden, Nick. Yahara River Watershed. 2 Apr. 2014. Lake Forecast.Org, Clean Lakes Alliance, https://lakeforecast.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-lakeforecast-api/public/images/yahara-map-full.png.
“Point Source and Nonpoint Sources of Pollution.” National Geographic, National Geographic, 1 Oct. 2024, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/point-source-and-nonpoint-sources-pollution.
“State of the Lakes Annual Report.” Clean Lakes Alliance, Clean Lakes Alliance, 2024, www.cleanlakesalliance.org/state-of-the-lakes.
“The Mississippi Drainage Basin.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/Mississippi-River/Mississippi-Drainage-Basin. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
“Urban and Suburban Areas: Pollution Tutorial.” NOAA’s National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1 June 2013, oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_pollution/05areas.html.
“Urbanization and Stormwater Runoff.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 8 Jan. 2026, www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/urbanization-and-stormwater-runoff.
“What Is a Watershed?” National Ocean Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, 16 June 2024, oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/watershed.html.
“What is the Clean Lakes Alliance.” Lake Forecast.Org, Clean Lakes Alliance, lakeforecast.org/CleanLakesAlliance. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Yahara Watershed Map. Clean Lakes Alliance, https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/state-of-the-lakes/yahara_watershed_map.
Episode Credits
Producer
Kylie Compe
Story
David Boffa
Ian Glodich
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ryan Hendricks
Script
Kylie Compe
Director of Photography
Ian Glodich
Videography
David Boffa
Ian Glodich
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Audio
Kerman Eckes
Andrew LaValley
Levi Schlimgen
Editors
David Boffa
Kylie Compe
Host
Ami Eckard-Lee
Graphics and Design
Charles Barrows
Animations
Ian Glodich
Illustrations
Cam Erhardt
Special Guests
David Ortiz
August Windel
Kei Davis
Brian Counselman
Paul Dearlove
Amelia Welton
Miranda Weidert
Stella Gomez Phillips
Translation Services
Rev
Captions
Catie Pfeifer
Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund
Jen Kobylecky
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Web Development
John Vieth
Digital Content
Sigrid Peterson
Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks
Director of Education
Megan Monday
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Special Thanks
UW-Madison Center for Limnology
Clean Lakes Alliance
Project Advisors
Kevin Anderson
Science Education Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Leigh Kohlmann
Independent Science Education Consultant
Oakfield, WI
Dolly Ledin
Wisconsin’s Green Fire
Madison, WI
Michael Notaro
Center for Climatic Research
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Victoria Rydberg-Nania
Environmental Education and Service Learning Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Funding provided by
Dr. Annette Beyer-Mears in memory of Howard & Nelle Weiss, Virginia Graves and Peter Tropman
Friends of PBS Wisconsin
Focus Fund for Education