NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2006--PLANET H2O, a two-part special focusing on fresh water systems around the world and their impact on land, air and living things, premieres on public television stations beginning in April to mark Earth Day (check local listings). The new magazine-style program from Thirteen/WNET New York and distributed nationally by American Public Television helps teens and pre-teens understand the interconnection between water and every life-form on Earth, using stories about young people and what they are doing about water conservation. The first episode is hosted by actress Sara Paxton (Aquamarine, Darcy's Wild Life). The second episode is hosted by actress America Ferrera (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Real Women Have Curves). The PLANET H2O Web site, live at www.thirteen.org/h2o, includes kids' activities, fun water facts, information on careers in water conservation, a downloadable teacher's guide, lesson plans, and video from the series.

The following environmental experts are available to discuss topics relating to water conservation and other relevant issues discussed in PLANET H2O:

WATER CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT:

SANDRA POSTEL, founder of The Global Water Policy Project (www.globalwaterpolicy.org), is a leading authority on international freshwater issues who has worked on water matters for more than 20 years. Postel's three books and numerous scholarly and popular articles on the world's freshwater provide valuable insights into the nature of global water challenges and constructive solutions. In 2002 she was honored by Scientific American for promoting "sweeping changes aimed at preserving the world's dwindling supplies of freshwater."

WATER AND HUMAN HEALTH:

DR. PETER H. GLEICK, co-founder and president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security (www.pacinst.org) in Oakland, CA, is an internationally recognized water expert, author and 2003 MacArthur Fellow whom the BBC has called a "visionary on the environment." His organization addresses the critical connections between water and human health, the hydrologic impacts of climate change, sustainable water use, privatization and globalization, and international conflicts over water resources.

SUSTAINABLE CLEAN WATER SYSTEMS IN THE AMAZON:

NANCY SANTULLO, founder and executive director, House of the Children (www.houseofthechildren.org), was a freelance fashion and advertising photographer in Los Angeles. She first visited Peru in 1999 because of her interest in the medicinal healing properties indigenous to rain forest cultures. Her organization's mission is to honor global indigenous cultures by providing health, education and environmental programs that raise the health and quality of life of all children and result in individual and community self-sustainability.

CHESAPEAKE BAY:

DON BAUGH, VP for Education, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (www.cbf.org), has worked as an environmental educator for 29 years. He was honored with the 1992 President's Environmental and Conservation Challenge Award, the 2000 National Association of Environmental Educator's Outstanding Service Award and the 2002 National Conservation Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

CHESAPEAKE BAY ECOLOGY/BLUE CRABS:

ANSON (TUCK) HINES, director of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (www.serc.si.edu) and the principal investigator for the SERC's Fish and Invertebrate Ecology Lab, has studied the life-history and ecology of blue crabs for more than 20 years and is one of the world's leading authorities on blue crabs. He is the co-principal investigator on the blue crab stock enhancement project featured in PLANET H2O.

GREAT LAKES WATERSHED:

STEPHANIE SMITH, education program manager, Alliance for the Great Lakes (www.greatlakes.org), oversees the organization's Adopt-A-Beach program, has authored Great Lakes in My World (the alliance's new kindergarten-eighth grade educational resource), and is in charge of developing and implementing Great Lakes' educational programming and curriculum for the alliance.

OGALLALA AQUIFER/GROUND WATER:

JAMES F. KRAMER, a geologist/geographic information specialist from Nebraska's Central Platte Natural Resources District (www.cpnrd.org), is working on an irrigation project to help residents of his home state conserve water in the drought-stricken Great Plains area. A U.S. Naval officer who recently returned from an eight-month tour of Iraq, Kramer is currently working toward his masters degree in geochemistry.

RIO GRANDE:

STEVE HARRIS, executive director of the Rio Grande Restoration (www.riogranderestoration.com), Streamflow Protection, has been a student of the river's history and natural history since 1975. He is president of a river outfitting business, Far-Flung Adventures, and is interested in river watershed conservation and education. His decades of experience on the river include work on the complex issue of diminished streamflow.

PLANET H2O, THE SERIES:

MAURA KELLY, executive producer of PLANET H2O, is involved in project development and the production of children's and educational programs at Thirteen/WNET. Her award-winning work has included the PBS hit series, ZOOM, In the Mix: The New Normal and the Emmy winning What's Up in the Environment? She developed PLANET H2O and Ethical Choices for teens, Nate the Great (based on the popular book series) for kids and The Internet in Action series for educators.

NAOMI EDELSON, senior producer of PLANET H2O, has specialized in creating science programs for public television for 14 years. Her work as a segment producer for the Emmy Award-winning program What's Up in the Environment? earned a prestigious honor from the EPA. She has also produced programs for a wide range of multimedia professional development video series for teachers.

IAN G. SAUNDERS, lead science consultant of PLANET H2O, served as head science writer for the entire Bill Nye The Science Guy series, where he won three daytime Emmys. He has served as a writer or science content director for many other shows, including SciSquad, Arthur, Grossology, and Strange Days at Black Hole High. His work also includes the creation and writing of many Boys & Girls Clubs of America after-school programs.

PLANET H2O is made possible by the Toyota USA Foundation, with additional funding from The Educational Foundation of America, The Anbinder Family Foundation and The Korein Foundation.

More information about PLANET H2O and downloadable images are available for press usage in the Thirteen Online Pressroom at http://thirteen.org/pressroom, keywords "Planet H2O."

Thirteen/WNET New York
Edward Gregory, 212-560-3021
gregory@thirteen.org