Milwaukee Riverkeeper

Our mission is to protect, improve and advocate for water quality, riparian wildlife habitat, and sound land management in the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic River Watersheds. As a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, an international coalition made up of over 300 groups across the planet, we are part of a global movement in the fight for clean water and strong communities.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper is a science-based advocacy organization working for swimmable, fishable rivers throughout the Milwaukee River Basin, a ~900 square-mile area touching 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and home to 54 fish species and over 1.3 million people. Our programming addresses issues related to pollution, safe access for all, and degraded water quality and restoration projects, such as dam removal and fish passage.



Through the power of people and partnership, we collect important data on the health of our rivers through the largest monitoring program in Wisconsin. We publish the information in an annual River Report Card, offering transparency into the current state of stream health. We share this information with community members and decision-makers so everyone can make informed choices and help push for important policy change and restoration work needed to protect clean water for future generations.



Every spring, we host one of the largest volunteer events in southeastern Wisconsin with 4,000+ people removing 100,000+ pounds of trash from our parks and waterways. Through our ongoing restoration program, Adopt-A-River, we continue cleanups year-round, plant trees and remove invasive species to mitigate flood risk, build shade in urban environments and create wildlife habitat. We co-lead the Plastic Free MKE coalition to address the single-use plastic epidemic and reduce the harms that unnecessary plastics have on environmental health, public health, and social justice. We provide free, hands-on environmental education to 1,200+ 3rd-12th graders annually and offer many events, like paddles, hikes, fishing clinics, film screenings, boat tours and educational opportunities to help connect community members to their local rivers.

Testimonials

"It is thrilling and rewarding to be part of a local organization and a local movement that has improved the Milwaukee River Basin so much in a few short years. The river and the banks and shores are cleaner and healthier for paddling, fishing, walking and exploring than at any time in my lifetime or my parents' lifetimes. We have a long way to go but the distance we have come is incredible." - Joe Shaffer

"We love the idea of being a part of river stewardship, and Milwaukee Riverkeeper gives us that opportunity. " - Mary Germain & Jillian Klug