A Desert Sea
A Desert Sea explores the magic and mystery of America's Dead Sea, tracing its history from prehistoric Lake Bonneville to the Great Salt Lake's status as one of the last remaining shorebird sanctuaries in the United States.
A River Reborn: The Restoration of Fossil Creek
The inspiring rebirth of a biologically critical river in Arizona is recounted in A River Reborn: The Restoration of Fossil Creek. The one-hour documentary examines the ecological effects of a dam and hydroelectric facility on the waterway and chronicles the 15-year effort that led to decommissioning. A River Reborn is a powerful case study in environmental restoration. It is emblematic of a broad reassessment of rivers and dams globally, as well as the growing effort to balance fulfillment of human needs with protection of the natural systems that support human life. This includes the safeguarding of precious water resources and the protection of threatened and endangered species. As a focal point for this reassessment, Fossil Creek reveals both challenges and opportunities associated with riparian restoration. More info..
A Watershed Mentality
The Maumee River Basin is the largest tributary and watershed in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River system. It is home to several unique species and one of the largest natural fish nurseries on the Great Lakes. It is also laden with enough sediment to endanger those habitats and creates one of the largest dredging operations in the United States. This documentary discusses the impact of sediment on the average person and the benefits of action.
Clearwater – One Woman’s Prayer
A profile of Houstonian Beth Miller, whose backyard experiments in her home in New Mexico led to the creation of constructed wetlands. These wetlands treated the scant rainwater and the gray water from her home and naturally cleansed it to irrigate her property with potable water that was equivalent to the hygiene standards of swimming pool water. Her work resulted in exhibitions of her models in Italy and England, recognition from the Royal Horticultural Society, and the construction of 180-acres of wetlands by the State of Nevada. Clearwater is the compelling story of how one woman's passion and commitment clearly make a difference.
Cultivating Life episode #101
Jump into the water and learn how to build a simple backyard water feature and discover methods for collecting and reusing rainwater. Plus great ideas for containerized water gardens, a watermelon and raspberry salad, simple tips on the art of keeping your yard well-watered, and a tour of the inner workings of Chicago's Buckingham Fountain.
Desert Wars: Water and the West
This program explores these pressing issues by looking at the conflicts surrounding the future of the Snake Valley groundwater aquifer in Nevada and Utah's west desert and at efforts to tap it for Las Vegas, Nevada. Ranchers and farmers in small towns like Callao and Partoun, Utah, and Baker, Nevada, depend on the aquifer for their way of life. Las Vegas, one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, wants part of this water to support its burgeoning growth. Proposed groundwater pipelines flowing to Las Vegas could possibly affect not just small towns and ranching communities but also Great Basin National Park, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, and endangered species. More info..
Drinking Water: To Quench a Public’s Thirst
This one-hour documentary, narrated by actress Wendie Malick, highlights where California's drinking water comes from, how it's treated, and what people can do to protect water quality. A special companion website, Where Your Drinking Water Comes From, lets people learn if their drinking water is from groundwater or surface water from sources such as the State Water Project.
Glen Canyon: A Dam, Water and the West
Glen Canyon: A Dam, Water, and The West demonstrates how, as the West continues to develop, water issues will remain. The Glen Canyon Dam stands as a symbol for both past and future, where memories of the past still clash with visions of progress. It is a place in the West that can uniquely encourage both views. More info..
Let's Explore: Down by the Water K - 2
With a little help from Wanda, students are taken to communities located by the water to learn about the people who live, work, and play there. Tour the many different kinds of houses located by oceans, lakes, rivers and, streams. See some of the many jobs you could have working around the water. Experience the different seasons in these environments. Recognize that plants, fish, and other creatures live in and near water, and understand the importance of taking care of these watery habitats. More info..
Planet H20 Two 30 minute programs.
Program #1: “The Secret Life of Water” illustrates the importance of water management and conservation by tackling the twin issues of availability and pollution. In the segment, "A Day in the Life of the Rio Grande," the river is seen through the eyes of two young women: a whitewater rafting guide from upstream, where the river really is "grande," and one living in the desert near El Paso, Texas, where the river earned the nickname "Rio Wimpy." The segment also introduces Gloria and Mary Melendez, a mother-daughter pair who are educating people in Las Colonias, on the border of Texas and Mexico, about water and their health. In the following segment, "Precision Farming, " viewers learn that farming accounts for 70 percent of the fresh water usage in the world and that more than half of the water used in agriculture is wasted. The story centers on 14-year-old Jake and his dad, Mark, a fifth-generation grain farmer in Nebraska, who are using new technologies to save water for future generations of farmers. "Bottle or Tap?" explores the booming business of bottled water. A crack team of teen supersleuths investigates and gets to the bottom of the big questions: Is bottled water really tastier, fresher and healthier? More info..
Program #2: Understanding the central role watersheds play in the availability of clean, fresh water is key to Program Two, Water World. At the same time fragile and resilient, watersheds worldwide are threatened by pollution, dams and diversions, which can result in unintended negative consequences for all living things. The first segment, "Pumped Up for Peace," features an indigenous Amazon community that is building a clean water system and visits the high school students in New York who raise funds for its construction. When six-year-old Ryan Hreljac of Canada learned that kids in Africa die from drinking polluted water, he couldn't rest until he did something to help. Ryan started out raising money by doing extra chores, but today the teenager's foundation is building wells in countries around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of people live healthier lives. "Ryan's Well Foundation" tells his inspiring story. A group of teens learn from Maryland watermen how challenging it is to make a living by catching crabs in today's Chesapeake Bay, which is featured in "Saving Chesapeake Bay." After discovering that pollution in the watershed is jeopardizing the bay's ecology and economy, the teens learn how they can take a leadership role in restoring the bay to health. When it comes to sharing water, what is fair? "Water for Money" takes aim at this question by examining the Great Lakes of North America, which contain 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water, but supply only a very small number of the world's inhabitants. In this segment, experts and teens inside and outside the Great Lakes watershed offer different perspectives on the sharing of water. More info..
River of Stone
River of Stone recreates Powell's journey through the heart of Colorado Plateau using archival photographs and new footage from a recent re-enactment, following the wake of Powell's wooden dories through landscapes and waterways changed greatly through human intervention.
Scully: the World Show episode #911
The rallying cry of 'Save the World!' may be construed as a jestful jab at the strident environmentalists among us, but as the Global Nature Fund proves, some organizations intend to do just that. The GNF's 'Living Lakes' project is an unprecedented program that aims to protect, restore and rehabilitate lakes, wetlands and their respective catchment areas around the globe. On this edition of Scully/The World Show, we profile the German-based organization as part of our series featuring the Alcan Prize for Sustainability finalists. Working with 30 organizations spread across five continents, the 'Living Lakes' project encourages local communities, governments, private companies, scientists and environmentalists, and most important, regular people to share in the care of these vital ecosystems. From implementing ecotourism strategies, to resuscitating migratory habitats, to improving agricultural techniques and restoring land use practices around water courses, this project continues to impress in its diversity of solutions as much as its determination to conserve.
Swim for the River
In 2004, Christopher Swain braved whitewater, sewage, snapping turtles, hydroelectric dams, Homeland Security patrols, factory outfalls and chemical contamination to swim the entire length of the 315-mile Hudson River, from its source in the Adirondack Mountains to New York City. SWIM FOR THE RIVER links Swain's light-hearted commentary and incredible physical achievement with stories of the river, which begins in wilderness and ends in one of the nation's densest population centers. The documentary also introduces environmentalists, including folk singer Pete Seeger, who fight to protect the Hudson against a range of threats from industry, regulatory agencies and public indifference. More info..
The Fate of the Jewel
Renowned for its crystal clear deep cobalt blue waters, Lake Tahoe has long been regarded as the crown jewel of the Sierra Nevada. Despite its beauty, the lake's famous clarity has declined significantly over the past 30 years as delicately linked strands of an efficient ecosystem have been torn apart by human activities. THE FATE OF THE JEWEL documents the federal, state and grassroots efforts to stop and reverse Lake Tahoe's declining condition. This program highlights the efforts being made to ensure of the long-term health of Lake Tahoe: new ideas for traffic management, controlling development and mapping the lake to learn more about its problems. In addition, policy changes from the U.S. Forest Service such as introducing controlled burns, and implementing erosion control and stream restoration projects, are aiding in the lake's recovery. More info..
Two Sides of a River
This is the story of the New River, often called the most polluted river in North America. The New River flows from Mexico into southern California, picking up industrial waste and urban sewage before crossing the border. The program examines how this one little river has become a flashpoint of often conflicting controversies swirling around international relations, illegal immigration, long-term health problems, agricultural drain water, and a lifeline for the Salton Sea.
Turning the Tide
Often viewed as inhospitable wastelands - too wet to be easily built upon or farmed - wetlands often were filled to accommodate growing populations or used as industrial dumping grounds. But, over the past few decades, individual action and major policy changes have helped protect, preserve and revitalize this critical natural resource. TURNING THE TIDE showcases the hidden beauty of New Jersey's tidal areas, including the Hackensack Meadowlands near New York City and the Hamilton-Trenton Marsh along the Delaware River. Once scarred by landfills and toxic waste sites, these regions have evolved from polluted eyesores into diverse habitats for wildlife. The half-hour documentary follows scientists, senior citizens and young children as they discover these urban wetlands' rich variety of plants and animals.
Water, The Drop of Life
Water: The Drop of Life attempts to show how important and vulnerable the world's fresh water supply is. This 6 part video series provides an in-depth look at water's role in agriculture, industry, pollution, religion, transportation, and more - at locations around the world such as Africa, Australia, Canada, England, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United States. Water: The Drop of Life brings into focus the realization that for millions of people, worldwide, our global well is running dry. We must face the problem and take up the challenge, for ourselves and our future generations. In water, all of life's colors are reflected. In its' timeless, nurturing grace, water inspires poets, artists and world leaders alike. The story of water is told with the help of global personalities, people who believe that this may be the most important story of the new century. Contributions from: Ted Danson, Isabel Allende, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Anita Roddick, Kofi Annan, the Dali Lama, Queen Noor, Shimon Peres, and Johan Cruyff. Six 52 minute programs.
Water’s Journey
The River Returns: WATER'S JOURNEY: The River Returns launches an intrepid team of filmmakers and scientists on a journey high above and deep within the earth to trace the source of an American Heritage river -- Florida's historic St. Johns. As the expedition team journeys from the river's mouth to its source, they completely immerse themselves in the mechanics of a typical urban river system. Stunning, high definition footage captures the magical beauty of the river as it's never been seen before, and the frightening reality that the stresses of society lay just beyond the treetops. It's a wild ride featuring flying inflatable boats, cave diving, kayaking and even a storm drain spelunking expedition.
Wild River: The Colorado
Follow the Colorado River from its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park through Utah's Westwater Canyon, the national parks of Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Zion, the fragile beauty and rapids of Grand Canyon, and into Mexico. More info..
