Protect Our Rivers

Protect Our Rivers works to empower and inspire individuals and communities to make a positive and immediate impact on river health so rivers are not destroyed by human impact, and they are passed forward for future generations. 

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we work to make a lasting impact on river health through active conservation, education, and access. We organize river cleanups across the U.S., and provide opportunities to get the next generation out on the water to fall in love with rivers like we have. 

Our organization is driven by the belief that everyone has the power to make a difference and that difference matters. Our programs connect people to rivers and empower them to take action, with the hope that our work will have a long-lasting impact on river health, and we can pass forward the resources and experiences rivers provide us all.

Our Impact 

Here are a few of the things we've accomplished since we started in February of 2021. 

• We have planned and organized 161 river cleanup events across 22 rivers in seven states in the past 5 years. Over 12,500 volunteers have joined us and together we've removed  281,500 pounds of trash from rivers and streams. In 2024 we expanded into two new states and had a record impact for our cleanup season. We also organized one of the biggest cleanups in the U.S.! 
• We launched two river access programs, giving 38 kids their first-ever experience on the river, including hands-on education and a day of whitewater rafting. We also laid the groundwork to expand to three programs next year on Clear Creek, the Poudre River, and the Arkansas River. Through these experiences, we see the transformative impact on kids and hope to inspire the next generation of river protectors. 
• Growing the Next Generation of River Protectors: Each year, we involve more kids in river cleanup events and educational programs. We’ve organized multiple cleanups for 5th-grade students, creating dedicated River Stewardship Days that combine hands-on river conservation with education that directly support their watershed education curriculum to foster their understanding and love for rivers. 
• Interactive Education and Empowering Communities:We launched several hands-on educational programs that helped educate thousands of people about watershed conservation, river ecosystem health, or human-caused problems like pollution.
  • We’ve empowered dozens of individuals and groups by providing the tools and resources needed for several groups to independently organize and run their own cleanup events. Some examples include: 
    • In partnership with Jack Johnson’s All At Once Community, we led a Nationwide DIY Cleanup Effort (The Better Together Cleanup Challenge). Over 1800 people participated across 17 states, removing 15,431 pounds of trash from our outdoor spaces and waterways.
    • We mentored middle school students to help them organize a river cleanup that engaged their local community (fellow students, Boy Scout Group, and neighborhood friends).
• Protect Our Rivers Day: We established a new National Holiday thanks to the support of Governor Polis who proclaimed June 22nd as Protect Our Rivers Day. This day serves as a reminder that everyone has the power to make a difference protecting rivers for future generations to come.   

Testimonials

"There are many incredible river organizations working to support rivers. Protect Our Rivers stands out to me because of what they do and what they get other people to do. They get people into the river to pull trash out of the river. And, they give people a chance to connect with rivers and learn firsthand about the pollution and other problems each river is facing. No other organization gets people involved quite like they do."

- Sam Carter, Host of The River Radius Podcast 

“After spending years researching and studying the factors that put waterways in imminent danger, due to pollution caused by humans, I wanted to make an adamant effort in supporting an organization that supports the conservation of this vital resource. That's how I found Protect Our Rivers. I knew by signing up for a clean up I could be a part of something bigger than myself and actively create change. Protect our Rivers has created a community of incredible individuals who continue to promote the mission of making a lasting positive impact on river health. After my first clean-up and meeting the most wonderful human being, the founder, Sarah, I made the decision to invest in their organization because the work that they do is instrumental. If you want to make a difference this new year, I strongly encourage you to get involved with this incredible community, whether it's donating, volunteering, or even networking!”

Lexi, Active Volunteer