Adopt-A-River
A Rewarding Commitment to Restoring Our Waters
Did you know that you can adopt a section of our waterways? By committing to clean up a section two or more times a year, you will steward your own section of the Milwaukee River Basin and join a community of adopters working to restore our waterways.
Who Can Adopt a River?
- Individuals & Families
- Companies
- Organizations
- Community Groups
Help Restore Our Waterways
Our waterways need you! The rivers, and the pollution within, connect to Lake Michigan the source of our drinking water. Our health depends on clean water and the wildlife that live there, do too. The waterways need your help and dedication to protect this delicate ecosystem:
Did you know?
- 85% of fish in the Milwaukee River have plastic in their digestive tracts.
- More than 85 % of trash found in our rivers during cleanups is single-use plastic.
- Most litter we find is plastic and/or toxic – like food wrappers, cigarette butts, plastic bags, plastic bottles, and take out containers.
How Does Adopting a Section of River Help?
As a River Adopter, your commitment and work help to maintain:
Healthier habitats for wildlife & aquatic animals
Mitigation of microplastics in our waterways
Healthy native plant life
Beautiful, local waterways for recreating
Opportunities to volunteer with friends & neighbors
What Responsibilities do River Adopters Have?
Individuals, families, and groups commit to, and coordinate, cleaning up their section of the waterway at least two times a year. Milwaukee Riverkeeper will organize trash removal, provide supplies, safety tips and support.
Our volunteers are the eyes and ears of our waterways. Adopters often become intimately familiar with their unique section of river, reporting issues and concerns throughout the season. The Adopt-A-River community supports ongoing research about pollution in the Milwaukee River Basin, collecting critical data used to find solutions to stop litter at the source.
Looking for other ways to help your section of river thrive:
- Planting Native Trees
- Removing Harmful Non-Native Vegetation
- Regularly Monitoring Water Quality
- Reporting Pollution
- Hosting Recreation Outings
- Hosting a Program or Presentation
What Sections of Our Waterways Are Available?
The Milwaukee River Basin is 882.3 square miles and contains 875 river miles that flow into Lake Michigan! It is made up of 3 watersheds and over 1.3 million people rely on our waters for recreation, transportation, economic services, and drinking water!
As an adopter, you can choose from a wide array of locations throughout our area, including locations on:
A Different Way to Make a Difference
Support Our Communities and Your Team
Giving back doesn’t have to be boring, and when you adopt a section of one of our local rivers, you can give back while getting outside and connecting with our environment. Our Adopt-A-River program is an ideal opportunity for teams who want to roll up their sleeves and dive right in. Express your love for the communities you serve with real, actionable volunteerism that offers up immediate results that you can feel proud of.
Businesses & Organizations Just Like Yours Are Making a Huge Impact
In 2024
3,513 volunteers donated their time
205 individual cleanups were hosted
52,000 pounds of trash were removed from our rivers
Adopting a River Can Benefit You, Too!
Adopting a section of one of our three rivers ultimately leads to a cleaner, healthier watershed and a cleaner and healthier community! It’s also a great way to:
- Create healthier habitat for wildlife and aquatic animals,
- Build fieldwork into your educational curriculum
- Build teamwork while giving back to your community
- Fulfill volunteer hours while exploring the watershed you live in
“
We jumped at the opportunity to participate in the new Adopt-A-River Program
because we know that protecting and connecting our people to our rivers will build a healthier and stronger community. It’s a great way for our staff to collaborate outside the office, have fun, and serve our community – all at the same time.”
—Adopting Business
”
Sign Up to Adopt-A-River Today!
Please fill out the form below and a member of the MRK team will reach out shortly to review details and help you take your next steps as an official River Adopter!
Adopt a River
Meet Our Amazing River Adopters!
We are honored to work with such incredible businesses, groups, and individuals throughout Southeastern Wisconsin to keep help restore the Milwaukee River Basin! Explore our Adopters by location below:
Milwaukee River Watershed
Kinnickinnic River Watershed
Menomonee River Watershed
A PROGRAM OF
SPONSORED BY:
