Milwaukee Riverkeeper teams up to clean the Great Lakes this Earth Month

MILWAUKEE – Every Spring Milwaukee Riverkeeper hosts a community-wide effort to clean up our rivers and kick-off the spring season. This year they’re not alone. With the help of partners like Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Friends of the Detroit River, Seneca Park Zoo Society, The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay and thousands of volunteers all around the Great Lakes, Milwaukee Riverkeeper plans to combine its large local cleanup with regional Great Lakes partners to coordinate a substantial Earth Day cleanup with the goal of removing 68 metric tons of trash from 17, 120 acres by the end of 2022.

“We are excited to partner with other Great Lakes water groups on a Great Lakes Cleanup effort. The Great Lakes are the source of drinking water for 11 million Wisconsinites, and 40 million Americans and Canadians.” said Cheryl Nenn, Riverkeeper. According to Nenn, one of the biggest threats to wildlife in the Great Lakes is trash, specifically single-use plastics. She hopes bringing together thousands of volunteers in the region will help people feel empowered to care for our lakes and waterways.

Unlike in previous years, the Earth Month cleanup will include pandemic precautions such as pre-registration, social distancing, and limited start times. However, despite these restrictions, Milwaukee Riverkeeper hopes to meet their record and clear out 100,000 pounds of trash.

“Working together, we can showcase how to care for our waterways including the simple things people can do to stop trash at its source,” Jennifer Bolger Breceda, Executive Director said. But, she’s careful to add, it’s going to take more than one day, though. According to her, it’s important to “foster a new generation of stewards to protect our waterways for years to come.”

Participants must register in advance for a site and start time. Masks and social distancing will be required. Those who are interested in joining the cleanup on April 24th can register here: bit.ly/MRKCleanup26

Event Details:

• Saturday, April 24, 2021 (Start times vary by location)
• 70+ Cleanup Sites in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties (map)
• Registration required:  bit.ly/MRKCleanup26
• Free T-Shirt for all participants

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.