Ed Klekowski began diving for fun in the Caribbean about 14 years ago when he had a research program in Trinidad on the genetics of tropical mangroves, so the diving was a break from mucking about in the swamps.
Ed's first dive in the Connecticut was with his daughter Amanda about a dozen years ago. They happened upon the wreck of a bridge that was swept into the river in the 1936 flood. Subsequent dives discovered the bottom of a glacial lake, an abyss 130 feet deep, and new insect species. Although the Connecticut was studied by Europeans for 300 years, Ed realized that underwater it was totally unknown, and learned something new on almost every dive.
Ed's TV career began unconventionally -- through Sy Becker of Channel 22 news. He did a few spots about his diving and research, and then asked about diving in the Quabbin. He arranged for permission to dive with the State Police divers and I shot footage. That eventually led to Under Quabbin. The script for the program was written in only four months.
Ed says he is fortunate to have a really great production team: Elizabeth Wilda, who is a talented and very creative editor, and his wife Libby, who is a very careful historical researcher and is extraordinary in finding old photos and other historical resources and shares his passion for local history.
Ed was a Professor of Biology at UMass-Amherst from 1968 to 2005. He is now an Emeritus Professor at the University, where he continues to research local history and work on new documentary projects.