Clean up a River for National Rivers Month

River Cleanups Offer Chance to Help Communities

June 5, 2009

Washington, DC — June is National Rivers Month and, to commemorate it, American Rivers is encouraging Americans to celebrate their local rivers by participating in or organizing a river cleanup. Hundreds of river cleanups across the country are scheduled during June and throughout the year. Volunteers can find a nearby river cleanup or information and tools to organize their own at www.AmericanRivers.org/Cleanup.

Each year, millions of tons of trash end up in the nation’s rivers. National River Cleanup was launched in 1991 to help keep the country’s rivers clean and trash-free. Since then, the program has grown significantly and more than 800,000 volunteers have participated in 6,000 cleanups across the country. 

This year, to encourage participation and make cleaning your river an easy and fun activity, anyone who registers to organize a cleanup through American Rivers will receive a cleanup kit that includes trash bags, t-shirts, and snacks.

“Healthy rivers mean healthy communities. By participating in a river cleanup, people can help serve their communities and make an immediate impact,” said Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers. “Residents of all ages can volunteer – for an hour or a day – to help clean the river they care about.”

In addition to the American Rivers web site, potential volunteers can find river cleanups near them on Facebook, VolunteerMatch.org and USAService.gov. Last year was American Rivers’ most successful year yet with more than 300,000 volunteers removing more than 2,400 tons of trash from more than 50,000 miles of our rivers. This year, American Rivers is on track to clean even more river miles. This year alone, several hundred cleanups across the country have already taken place to help protect and restore our nation’s rivers. 

  Visit www.AmericanRivers.org/Cleanup today to join in and make a difference in your community.

###

American Rivers is the leading conservation organization fighting for healthy rivers so communities can thrive. American Rivers protects and restores America's rivers for the benefit of people, wildlife and nature. Founded in 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and supporters, with offices in Washington, DC and nationwide.