In this episode of H2O and Beyond, I’m joined by Brian Eyler, Director of the Energy, Water & Sustainability Program at The Stimson Center, to explore one of the most important rivers in the world: the Mekong.

Over 70 million people rely on this river for food, income, and transportation — but its future is changing fast. From hydropower dams and rare earth mining, to flood pulse disruption and climate-driven storms, the Mekong is becoming one of the most engineered and pressured rivers on the planet.

0:00 Intro

5: 11 Geography of the Mekong

6:39 Why is the Mekong "Mighty"?

10:10 Rare Earth Mining on the Mekong

14:10 Effects of damming the Mekong

15:05 What is the Mekong "Flood Pulse"?

20:00 Dams in China

23:06 Why does China feel a need to build such large dams?

26:11 Geopolitics of the region

31:17 Who feels the effects of these changes in the Mekong?

35:10 Climate change and its effects on the Mekong

38:07 What are the solutions to climate change along the Mekong?

43:22 US diplomatic relations in the region

47:00 Future of the Mekong

51:17 Closing

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Did you know that sea otters were almost hunted to extinction for their fur? In this Episode of H2O and Beyond, I'm joined by Mr. Ian Giancarlo from Environment Oregon to discuss the importance of Sea Otters in the ecosystem!

We'll talk about the history of sea otters, the exact role they play in maintaining kelp forests, what threats they face today, and future plans to help stabilize their populations.

We'll even share some fun facts about sea otters that may surprise you! Did you know that sea otters have the densest fur out of any mammal on earth?

0:00 Intro

4:38 What are Sea Otters?

7:36 What is a keystone species?

8:40 Why were they almost hunted to extinction?10:21 Failed reintroduction of sea otters

13:10 Historical attempts to help save sea otters

14:35 What happens to an ecosystem without otters?

18:49 Kelp Forests for oxygen production

22:15 How else do otters contribute to the ecosystem?

25:12 Biggest challenges otters face in today's world

29:48 Orcas eating sea otters

32:42 What's being done today to save the otters?

42:20 Closing Remarks

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In this episode of H2O and Beyond, I'm joined by Ms. Cassandra VanDyne from California State Parks to learn about the Salton Sea. It was once a desert oasis! Millions would flock here in the 1960s and 70s to swim, fish, boat, and even hold speedboat competitions!

However, once a desert paradise, it's turned into a public health and ecological disaster. All the fish inside have died out through mass extinction events and toxic dust is kicking up from the lake bed and causing residents in the surrounding area to fall ill. So what can be done to save it?

0:00 Intro

1:25 What is the Salton Sea?

6:13 Formation of the sea

12:30 Ecosystem of the sea

17:02 Why is the Salton Sea salty?

20:15 Pre-1970s Salton Sea Oasis

21:43 Decline of the sea

25:00 Fish Extinctions

28:55 Saving the Salton Sea

34:42 Closing Remarks

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