By Clean Up The Lake — A new documentary series is about to make some waves in the world of environmental conservation, diving, and underwater exploration.
Focused on scuba diving to remediate and protect our freshwater lakes, this series goes beyond cleanup — it uncovers hidden history, protects artifacts, educates our next generation about something we were never aware of, and shines the light on crucial research topics such as invasive species and climate change’s impact on algal blooms in our drinking water sources.
This series digs deep into the hard work and dedication that happens behind the scenes of a Tahoe-based nonprofit called Clean Up The Lake’s grassroots team, showcasing their commitment to preserving our freshwater lakes.
Through compelling character development, beautiful cinematography and thoughtful storytelling, What Lies Beneath invites viewers to join the team on their eco-missions across the country.
Viewers will have the opportunity with each episode to not only enjoy the show, but experience the stunning settings of a new lake, meet new characters and explore an important and unique topic in each episode such as altitude diving, underwater archeology, pilot research and so much more.
Produced by Clean Up The Lake’s media division, M.A.D. Media (Make A Difference Media), What Lies Beneath takes viewers beneath the surface of lakes across the Tahoe basin, the Sierra Nevada, and even as far as Minnesota.
Viewers will witness firsthand the challenges the team faces and the solutions they’re implementing to combat invasive species, restore aquatic ecosystems, and safeguard historical underwater treasures. This series is the first project M.A.D. Media is debuting with another large film project on the lineup for later this winter.
“This series defines who we are. We’re telling our story, our adventure and our battle to protect our lakes,” said Clean Up The Lake Founder Colin West, who, given his former career in film and television, is also the writer and director of the series. “I hope this series will inspire communities to take action by showing them what has been out of sight and out of mind for decades—that is, what What Lies Beneath really reveals.”
Cinematographer and editor Ludovic Fekete described What Lies Beneath as one of the most visually stunning projects he’s worked on, saying, “The team’s dedication and the remarkable locations make it one of the best visual documentary projects I’ve had the pleasure of working on.”
As part of our ongoing efforts to make a meaningful impact on freshwater ecosystems, the production team is now pushing for further distribution of the series. Given this series has a shorter format, the goal is to get this project in the eyes of the communities it impacts. The team is speaking with networks, businesses, influencers, media companies, newspapers, and organizations that want to join our nonprofit’s mission to be M.A.D. [Making A Difference] — just as the namesake suggests — by sharing What Lies Beneath with their audiences. Whether through websites, social media, newsletters, broadcasts, or other platforms, the team invites others to reach out if they want to help amplify this much needed message to protect our freshwater resources.
“Our mission goes beyond the screen,” says Producer Jenny Uvira. “This series is just the beginning — we’re unveiling hidden worlds beneath our lakes and inspiring action. Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue to explore, discover, and make an impact.”
See a sneak peak here:
Watch & Get Involved
In-Person Screenings
Sharing the first three episodes of the series at:
- Alibi Ale Works, Truckee / March 6, 2025 / Doors at 6PM, screening at 7PM.
- South Lake Brewing Company, South Lake Tahoe, CA / March 8, 2025 / Doors
- at 6:30 PM, screening at 7:30 PM
Subscribe & Watch
Our Online Premiere of Episode 1 is March 9, 2025youtube.com/@madmediaofficial
Follow the Mission on Instagram: @CleanUpTheLake
Support Our Work: CleanUpTheLake.org
About MAD Media
MAD Media (Make A Difference Media) is the media arm of Clean Up The Lake 501(c)3, dedicated to producing high-quality content that amplifies environmental awareness and motivates positive change. With a focus on impactful storytelling and captivating visuals, M.A.D. Media creates content that highlights the critical work needed to protect our environment, showcasing the efforts being made to preserve and protect the planet’s most valuable resources.
About Clean Up The Lake
Clean Up The Lake is a nonprofit organization committed to the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems through scuba-based litter removal, invasive species monitoring, algalbloom research and public education and outreach. Since its inception, the organization has removed 81,100 pounds of trash from lakes across North America, discovered invasive species and inspired communities to take action in protecting the waters they love.
