Urbanization is a widespread and persistent phenomenon. However, it can be difficult to understand the full scale of terrestrial and aquatic urban impacts since the onset of significant population growth and development often precedes environmental monitoring efforts. Paleolimnology utilizes sediment records and a variety of biogeochemical proxies to better understand the magnitude, onset and drivers of environmental impacts in urban ecosystems. In this talk, I will use the paleolimnological records of three lakes – two that are presently in urban watersheds and one in a watershed considered urban during ancient Maya occupation – to describe common impacts to water quality and outlook for recovery/resilience in these unique ecosystems.