Mildred Millfoil and Frank Fillin have been friends since they both moved into your community many years ago. Recently Frank has decided to subdivide his land so he can build houses. In preparation for building bull dozers have come in and stripped off the top soil and knocked down trees. Frank lives just up the hill from Mildred.

On Mildred's land is a pond and a wetlands area near the edge of the forest. Every year Mildred watches the ducks come, make their nests, lay their eggs and raise their young by her pond.

From her living room window, Mildred can watch deer come and drink from her pond. Beavers cut down trees and build a lodge. As evening falls Mildred can see the beaver kits climbing out on the bank and sliding down into the water.

This year Mildred has noticed that the pond is smaller and the marshy areas on her property seem to be drying up. She is worried that this may affect the animals and ducks with whom she shares her home.

One night over coffee at the community centre Mildred mentions her worries to Frank. Sam Saddlesore, a rancher in the area, joins the conversation and tells the others that he is puzzled by the lack of water in his sloughs. Winifred Wingflap enters the room and Midred calls her over. Winifred works very hard for the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited.

Winifred suggests that the neighbours bring in her good friend Marvin Micro, a biologist, to help them solve the mystery of Millfoid Marsh.