Currents is a new river stewardship-focused WebTV project from that uses online video documentaries and whitewater kayaking as a means to educate audiences about the risks threatening the world’s rivers and to help highlight the intrinsic value of preserving rivers in their natural state.

Launched by Ottawa Valley-based media and events company Five 2 Nine Productions earlier this year, the goal of the project is to "promote positive actions on the rivers that are so important to [paddlers]."

Watch the first episode—er, webisode—below, highlighting Ecuador's endangered paddling jewels.

Currents - Episode 1 - Ecuador from Five 2 Nine Productions.

Currents is being released online in 12 + installments covering a different location and river network in each segment. Rather than moping over environmental losses, the videos are distinguished by a positive and fun approach, focusing on the actions of the people devoting their lives to protecting our water resources, and showing the rivers—from tame to class V—from the eyes of whitewater kayakers.

"Our goal is to educate paddlers and the general public on the issues facing our waterways and the actions that people can take to help address them," says project co-founder Mike McKay. "It is our belief that greater recreational use of rivers promotes a stronger recognition of their importance and a greater dedication for the broader public to protecting them."

Filming has already been completed in 6 locations: Ecuador, North Carolina, Australia, Quebec, New York and New Zealand.

"We have gone straight to the experts to speak to the issues," continues McKay. Among others, the film will highlight individuals from:

• American Whitewater

• The Freshwater Trust

• Riverkeeper Alliance

Five 2 Nine Productions is a group of paddlers who have decided to use their passion for white water as a platform to promote awareness about water issues to the broader public. Five 2 Nine's first project, Just Like You Imagined, was featured in the 2009 Reel Paddling Film Festival.

Episode 1: Ecuador—What you can do to help

The main thing that North Americans can do to help is to help support the local river-based tourism industry by visiting Tena and paddling its rivers. Plus, it’s some of the best whitewater that you’ll find anywhere. You can learn more about paddling in Ecuador or the issues faced by local rivers at www.kayakecuador.com.

Read the full back story to this episode of Currents and learn more about Daniel and the issues in Ecuador at www.five2nine.ca.

Watch future episodes of Currents at Five 2 Nine Productions' Vimeo Channel.