While more than 90% of Ohio’s wetlands have vanished over the past few centuries, a new nature docuseries aims to show there is hope — and a lot of work being done to protect what remains.
The series, By Nature’s Design: Exploring Our Native Wildlife, premieres its first episode, “Welcome to the Wetlands,” at 8 p.m. this Earth Day on April 22 on PBS Western Reserve. A and will air from noon to 2 p.m. on April 26, in the Science and Nursing Building at 鶹ý at Stark, 6000 Frank Ave. NW in Jackson Township.
The series dives into the wonders of native Ohio ecosystems, focusing first on wetlands. Among the experts featured in this episode are two Kent State researchers, Robert Hamilton IV, Ph.D., and Lauren Kinsman-Costello, Ph.D. Their work and insight help paint a deeper picture of what wetlands are, why they matter and what can be done to save them.
“We wanted to include local scientists who bring a range of perspectives,” said Sophia Gillespie, associate producer at PBS Western Reserve and the creator of the series. “Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Kinsman-Costello are a perfect fit with their experience and knowledge, especially on the topic of wetlands.”
‘Right in Our Own backyards’
Gillespie, who studied digital media production at Kent State and still works out of the station’s Kent-based office, said the idea for the series came from a personal love of nature and a growing desire to educate local viewers.
“I grew up around plants and was always learning about the natural world from my dad, who’s a landscape architect,” she said. “But it really clicked for me during an interview I did with a naturalist for another show. We were talking about turtles, and I realized how much people don’t know about the native wildlife right in our own backyards.”
Hamilton, an associate professor of biological sciences at Kent State Stark, is an aquatic ecologist who has worked in wetlands across Northeast Ohio for nearly two decades. His research focuses on water quality, insects and the role wetlands play in cleaning and storing water.
“Wetlands are incredibly important for flood control and improving water quality,” Hamilton explained in an interview for the show. “They act like sponges. Water sits in them, and pollutants settle out before that water flows downstream or into the ground. It’s like nature’s kidney.”
He has done extensive work in Stark County, including research at Sippo Lake and its nearby streams and the Cottonwood Wetland — a restored site he has been monitoring since before its restoration more than 10 years ago. Lately, he has also been studying microbes in wetlands alongside a colleague from co-located Stark State College.
“Every time we answer a question, five more come up,” he said. “Wetlands are changing, and so are we in how we study them.
Protecting Ohio’s Wetlands is Key
Joining Hamilton in the series is Kinsman-Costello, another Kent State biological sciences associate professor. She co-directs Kent State’s Center for Ecology and Natural Resource Sustainability and leads wetland monitoring for the Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network. Her team has been setting up wetland monitoring projects throughout Ohio, supporting the state’s broader H2Ohio initiative to restore and protect wetlands.
Kinsman-Costello brings a statewide perspective to the series, explaining how Ohio’s policies and partnerships are starting to turn the tide. She and Hamilton both agree that while much has been lost, there is still time to protect what is left — and even bring back more.
Ohio was once filled with swamps, marshes and forested wetlands, especially in the northwest. Known as the Great Black Swamp, that area is now mostly farmland. But new awareness and funding are helping bring wetlands back.
“People used to think wetlands were useless,” Hamilton said. “Now, the attitude is shifting. More folks understand their value, and there’s real momentum behind protecting them.”
Gillespie hopes the docuseries will fuel that momentum.
“The wetlands we see in Ohio today are thanks to passionate people and good policies,” she said. “This first season will show how far we’ve come — and how far we still have to go.”
By Nature’s Design
“By Nature’s Design” is a three-part series. Following the premiere episode’s introduction to wetlands, the next episodes will explore native versus invasive species and how wetlands change throughout the seasons.
After its Earth Day debut, the first episode will be available to stream on the PBS Western Reserve website, the PBS app and YouTube. Viewers are encouraged to share their thoughts with the station on social media and visit for more information.
Attend the special screening event at Kent State Stark
鶹ý at Stark will host a live screening of “By Nature’s Design” from noon to 2 p.m. on April 26, in the Science and Nursing Building, 6000 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton 44720.
The event includes a viewing of the first episode, a Q&A session with featured experts and an optional guided tour of the campus wetlands. Presented in partnership with PBS Western Reserve, the event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Recommended for ages 16 and up.
To register, visit .
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Photo cutline: Robert Hamilton IV, Ph.D., talks to a PBS Western Reserve film crew about Ohio’s wetlands for the upcoming series, “By Nature’s Design: Exploring Our Native Wildlife.” A special live screening is open to the public and will air from noon to 2 p.m. on April 26, in the Science and Nursing Building at 鶹ý at Stark, 6000 Frank Ave. NW in Jackson Township.