Vermonters are still coming to terms with the devastating toll of this summer’s flooding, which inundated downtowns, destroyed homes and businesses, and caused two confirmed deaths. Considered from almost any angle, the impact of this extreme weather on the state has been massive.

Among the issues that environmental reporter Emma Cotton has been looking into is how the floods affected wildlife and ecosystems — and in turn, how those ecosystems impact the way flooding affects humans and our infrastructure.

In this episode, host Sam Gale Rosen talks to Emma about fish, turtles, salamanders, birds, wetlands, water quality, river efficiency (it’s not a good thing), climate change and more. Plus they visit a swamp.