Providing safe, clean drinking water to all people is one of the most basic roles and responsibilities for a functioning civil society. Yet, 50 years after passing the Clean Water Act, the United States–the richest country in the history of the

Major Questions (And Answers!) about the Supreme Court

Aug 10th, 2022 1h 27m

The recent West Virginia v. EPA Supreme Court ruling has left the environmental community fearing the worst: a conservative Court hamstringing the EPA’s ability to tackle climate change. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the ruling with

Rivers at a Crossroads

May 27th, 2022 50m 5s

The Mississippi River–America’s most iconic and storied river, and the lifeblood of human civilizations and cultures dating back centuries–has again been named to a list of the nation’s Most Endangered Rivers. In this episode, we speak with Oli

Ethanol's False Promise

Apr 6th, 2022 57m 53s

Ethanol is promoted by industry as an environmentally-friendly renewable fuel source, but in reality, it’s actually fueling climate change.In this episode of Stories from the Floodplain, Prairie Rivers Network speaks with Dr. Tyler Lark from

Powering Opportunity with Illinois Solar for All

Feb 16th, 2022 34m 27s

Illinois may not be the Sunshine State, but after last year’s monumental legislative achievement - the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act - renewable solar energy is more available and affordable than ever. And there are dedicated people throughout

Tracy Fox: PRN River Steward Award Winner

Dec 14th, 2021 34m 14s

Each year, Prairie Rivers Network honors an individual whose on-the-ground efforts to protect the state’s rivers and streams inspire us. We present that person with the River Steward Award.In this episode of Stories from the Floodplain, Prair

30x30: A new conservation of, by, and for the people

Sep 16th, 2021 44m 54s

Could the answer to the climate and biodiversity crises be a new, more inclusive model for locally-led conservation of America’s lands and waters? In this episode of Stories from the Floodplain, Prairie Rivers Network speaks with Tonyisha Harri

A New Era for Coal Ash Cleanup

May 5th, 2021 13m 10s

In April, the Illinois Pollution Control Board issued new rules on dealing with coal ash in the state. In this episode of Stories from the Floodplain, Prairie Rivers Network discusses the implications for this new rule, how we got to where we a

Spreading Poison

Apr 7th, 2021 54m 28s

The natural world is under multiple threats, many of which are complex and difficult to measure. Landowners, farmers, municipalities, and industries across the country apply pesticides at an alarming rate, attempting to conquer nature, maximize

A New Paradigm

Feb 16th, 2021 20m 12s

Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali is a renowned thought leader, internationally known speaker, policy maker, and the National Wildlife Federation Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization. He spoke at last year’s Pra

The Transition

Jan 19th, 2021 47m 9s

Prairie Rivers Network sits down to talk with Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. We discuss what the Biden administration and a new Congress mean for the environment and climate, the intense divide in the US,

Shock to the Food System

Nov 9th, 2020 31m 54s

Prairie Rivers Network sits down to talk with three different organizations making an impact on our food system: Dave Bishop’s PrairiErth Farm, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and Men of Power-Women of Strength. We discuss how the COVID-19 pande

Water Transcends Boundaries: A Conversation with Commissioner Kimberly Neely du Buclet

Aug 25th, 2020 35m 59s

Prairie Rivers Network sits down to talk with Kimberly Neely du Buclet, a commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). We discuss what MWRD is currently doing to improve the lives of all Chicagoans, in

Long Live the Great Lakes Republic: A Conversation with Dr. Rachel Havrelock

Jun 9th, 2020 40m 6s

Prairie Rivers Network sits down to talk with Dr. Rachel Havrelock, founder of the Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago. We discuss why the US EPA is failing in its duty to enforce environmental protections and how new, water

An Engineering Paradigm

Aug 16th, 2019 13m 48s

Throughout history, humans have made efforts to control nature. We’ve built structures to keep rivers at bay and farmland and towns dry. But these structures have proven themselves to be far from perfect, and attempting to engineer America’s la

That Lawless Stream

Jul 30th, 2019 19m 41s

Mark Twain once wrote, “ten thousand River Commissions, with the mines of the world at their back, cannot tame that lawless stream, cannot curb it or confine it.” These words are immortalized in his book Life on the Mississippi, and it’s no arg

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