Water is one of the Finger Lakes region’s most important resources — and one of its least understood. Harmful algal blooms, drinking water concerns, invasive species, sewage overflows and lake health issues have increasingly become part of everyday conversation across Central New York. But for many residents, understanding the science behind those headlines can still feel out of reach.
That’s the gap Auburn environmental scientist Ally Berry is trying to close with AquaDiary, a podcast and YouTube series focused on explaining water science in plain English.
Berry, who previously served as the Owasco Lake Watershed Inspector and now serves on the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council, launched AquaDiary earlier this year after years of hearing the same questions from residents, neighbors and community members about the lakes and water systems they rely on every day.
“Over the years, I kept getting asked questions about our lakes that deserved better answers than a Facebook comment,” Berry told FingerLakes1.com.
The result is a podcast that blends environmental science, public education and regional storytelling into episodes designed for people without technical or scientific backgrounds. Topics so far have included bottled water, harmful algal blooms, Syracuse’s drinking water system and so-called “exploding lakes” — an episode that helped introduce many viewers to the growing risks associated with methane buildup and changing lake conditions.
The podcast’s reach has grown quickly. NPR highlighted AquaDiary during its first week, while some episodes have reached tens of thousands of viewers online. Educators in Sri Lanka have also begun using the content for environmental education purposes.
At the core of AquaDiary is a simple idea: The public cannot effectively protect lakes and drinking water systems without understanding how they work.
“The idea was to explain the emerging science behind the water we drink and swim in, in plain English, for people who care but don’t have a science background,” Berry said.
FingerLakes1.com Vice President Josh Durso said the project fills a growing need for trustworthy, accessible environmental reporting and education in the region.
“Ally’s work with AquaDiary is proof that people across the Finger Lakes and Central New York are hungry for thoughtful, credible information about environmental issues and water quality,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve heard from readers and viewers who want answers grounded in science and real expertise — not noise from social media personalities pretending to be experts. Ally brings professional experience, deep knowledge of these lakes, and an ability to explain complicated topics in a way that’s approachable and engaging. In a time when attention spans are shorter than ever, AquaDiary succeeds because it makes important information accessible without oversimplifying it.”
The podcast arrives at a time when water quality and infrastructure conversations are becoming increasingly urgent across the Finger Lakes. Harmful algal blooms have become more common in several lakes during warmer months, while aging sewer systems, agricultural runoff, flooding concerns and climate pressures continue forcing municipalities and watershed organizations to rethink long-term planning.
Berry says AquaDiary is designed to go deeper than a traditional headline story by focusing on context and scientific explanation. “Because you can’t protect what you don’t understand,” she said in the show’s introductory episode.
New episodes are released every Friday morning at 8 a.m. and distributed through Spotify, YouTube and other podcast platforms.
FingerLakes1.com will begin carrying AquaDiary episodes to help introduce more regional readers and listeners to the project and the issues shaping the Finger Lakes watershed.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].