Our Impact
Defining Our Impact: Beyond the Numbers
At Milwaukee Riverkeeper, we celebrate both small victories and transformative wins. Systemic change and water quality improvements take time, collaboration, and persistence—but every step forward makes a difference. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in:
Building Community
Our volunteers are the heart of Milwaukee Riverkeeper. What began as a small group of neighbors committed to protecting local waterways has grown into a powerful movement of thousands working together for clean water across 7 counties, to demand change.
Research shows that just five minutes of outdoor volunteering in green and blue spaces can boost mood, reduce stress, and alleviate symptoms of depression—meaning our work benefits both people and rivers.
In the last five years:
25%
Spring Cleanup volunteer participation grew by 25%
2x
Volunteer opportunities doubled—a testament to our community’s growing commitment to our rivers.
60%
Our community-based water quality monitoring program remains the largest in Wisconsin, providing nearly 60% of all baseline data for the Milwaukee River Basin.
Cultivating Commitment
75%
75% of volunteers would recommend volunteering with us.
82%
82% returned for the 2024 season(compared to a 65% national average retention rate).
50%
Nearly half of our water quality monitors also participate in other Milwaukee Riverkeeper programs.
Expanding Knowledge
Science and data fuel our advocacy and restoration work. Research confirms that connecting people—especially youth—to nature builds a lasting culture of stewardship. Through our programs, we provide hands-on education that empowers people to advocate for stronger water protections.
In 2024, We Have:
4k
Spent 4,000 hours in classrooms
1.2K
Engaged 1,200 students
400+
Delivered 400+ lessons, events, presentations, and workshops
Driving Action
By mapping, researching, and monitoring our waterways, Milwaukee Riverkeeper has built credibility as a science-based advocacy organization. Our unique blend of community engagement and technical expertise allows us to drive policy change and influence decision-making. In 2024, we engaged on 24 issues related to clean water.
Weekly, Our Team Spends:
8+
8+ hours providing public comments and technical expertise
15+
15+ hours planning critical restoration projects
6+
6+ hours responding to community concerns
8+
8+ hours organizing and engaging communities
4+
4+ hours reviewing discharge and construction permits
“
Through our nine years of monitoring, we’ve consistently had strong support from MRK staff, and the range of both on-site and web-based training has been helpful in improving our understanding of monitoring techniques. In my long association with a variety of organizations
MRK stands for both their resource advocacy, as well as the organizational support they provide those who volunteer for this remarkable organization
—The Bruhys, Water Quality Monitors
”
By combining science, community, and action, we’re creating lasting change for our waterways—and the people who depend on them.
