2016 Spring River Cleanup

Each year Milwaukee Riverkeeper mobilizes thousands of volunteers who work to remove several tons of trash from rivers in the Greater Milwaukee Area. In 2015, more than 3,500 volunteers hauled about 70,000 pounds of trash out of our rivers, which is equivalent to the combined weight of 3,333 mink, 1,000 river otter, 600 beaver, and 333 salmon! Come be a part of the action and participate in our 21st Annual Spring River Cleanup!

We provide the bags, gloves, and FREE T-SHIRTS and YOU provide the hands and energy to pick up trash, litter, and the interesting and sometimes bizarre pieces of garbage that find their way into our beautiful river system. Grab a garbage bag and let’s clean some river!

Registration for your site is not required, but it helps us plan for how many supplies to distribute.

Become A River Rock Star!

On April 23rd you’ll join more than 3,500 volunteers in cleaning up our rivers but we need your help to continue this work all year long. You can get even more people involved in our Spring River Cleanup by asking others to sponsor your cleanup efforts. We are asking you to collect pledges for every bag of trash you pick-up during the cleanup! Every dollar you raise for Milwaukee Riverkeeper goes directly to our work of restoring stream banks, identifying pollution, and fighting for strong policies and enforcement of laws to keep our water clean. Together we are working to ensure a future where all people in the Milwaukee River Basin can enjoy clean drinking water and fishable, swimmable rivers.

Send your collected pledges and personal contact information to Milwaukee Riverkeeper by May 9th, 2016. If you raise or give more than $100 yourself, you will be entered in a drawing for a Milwaukee Riverkeeper Prize Package.This includes a ride on the Milwaukee Riverkeeper vessel for you and five of your friends with your own tour guide, Riverkeeper Cheryl Nenn!

Trash Bash

Celebrate the success of the cleanup with drinks, food, raffle prizes, and more. We will have locations on all three rivers from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm!

Milwaukee River: Estabrook Park – Tables set up next to the Beer Garden. More details soon!
Menomonee River: Hoyt Park – Grand Hall in the main building, connected to the Beer Garden. More details coming soon!
Kinnickinnic River: Modrzejewski Playground– Main clubhouse building in the middle of the park. More details coming soon!