Our Impact - Missouri River Relief

How We're Changing the River's Story

For generations, the Missouri River has been a waterway people crossed, not a place they cared for and understood. We're changing that story, one cleanup, one field trip, and one paddler at a time. Every number below represents a moment when someone's relationship with the Missouri River changed forever. These numbers are more than statistics. They show stories of transformation. Learn about the ripple effect we've had on communities along the Missouri River since 2001.

231

River Cleanups

231 times communities gathered to care for something bigger than themselves

26

Educator Workshops

26 times that teachers gathered to learn about turning the river into their classroom

2,178,000

Pounds of Trash

Proof that neighbors working together can solve big problems

42,819

Students & Teachers

42,819 minds changed about what the Missouri River could be, all through hands-on experiences

35,118

Cleanup Volunteers

35,118 people who discovered that stewardship builds friendships

6,374

Paddlers Paddling

6,374 adventures that brought wonder to the water

What Others Are Saying: Honors and Awards

We've been recognized by conservation groups, education organizations, and community leaders across Missouri and beyond. Each award represents communities that understand: when people care for the Missouri River, the river helps people care for each other.

2025 Missouri Environmental Education Association "Organization of the Year"
2025 Missouri Waste Control Coalition "Environmental Excellence Award"
2023 Conservation Federation of Missouri "Conservation Educator of the Year" awarded to Kristen Schulte
2023 "50 Missourians You Should Know" - Ingram's Magazine honoring Steve Schnarr
2021 Missouri Attorney General Honors Award
2020 Missouri Environmental Education Association “Outstanding Service Award” awarded to Kristen Schulte
2020 Missouri Stream Team "Stream Team Ambassador Award" awarded to Kevin Tosie
2020 Columbia Public Schools 5-year Partners in Education plaque
2020 "Progress in Sustainability" from the Columbia Missourian Progress Awards
2018 "Conservation Organization of the Year" from the Conservation Federation of Missouri
2018 Certificate of Appreciation from the Village of Hartsburg, to Steve Schnarr
2018 "Kay & Leo Drey Environmental Stewardship Award" from Missouri Coalition for the Environment awarded to Steve Schnarr
2018 "Missouri River Champion Award" from the Missouri River Natural Resources Committee
2017 "Citizen's Award" - Missouri Chapter of American Fisheries Society
2017 "Missouri River Country Heroes Award" - by Magnificent Missouri and Katy Land Trust
2017 Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement "Environmental Stewardship Award" - City of Columbia, MO
2017 100 Years of Missouri Conservation Partnership Award – Mo. Dept. of Conservation & Mo. Cons. Heritage Foundation
2016 "Stream Team Ambassador Award" for Outstanding Service to Missouri's Rivers and Streams - awarded to Melanie Cheney
2015 G. Andy Runge Award from Missouri Chapter of the Wildlife Society
2011 Environmental Grant Award Winner from MO American Water
2011 "River Kids Hero" Award
2011 Mayor's proclamation from the City of Washington declaring Oct. 10th-16th "Missouri River Week" in honor of the Big Muddy Clean Sweep
2011 Congressional Record from Senator Claire McCaskill in honor of River Relief's 10th Anniversary
2010 Mid-Missouri Peaceworks Recognition for Sustainability and the Environment
2009 Resolution from Kansas City, MO, City Council and Mayor "Welcoming Missouri River Relief to Kansas City, MO"
2007 The Open Space Council’s William C. Shock “Clean Water Conservancy Award”
2007 REI’s St. Louis “Non-Profit of the Month” (August)
2005 EPA Region 7 Administrator’s Award “Environmental Excellence”
2005 Lakeside Nature Center (Kansas City) “Volunteer of the Month”
2005 James River Basin Partnership “Clean Water Award”
2005 “Stream Team Achievement Award” -- Adult Leadership
2004 Missouri Environmental Education Association “Environmental Education Service”
2003 David Garcia Award for “Environmental Excellence”

By the Numbers

231 Cleanups
100 "Away Teams"
2,178,000 Pounds of Trash
35,118 Volunteers
300+ Educational River Trips
400+ Missouri River Presentations
26 Educator Workshops
177 Learning Festivals
42,819 Students & Teachers
12 Student Summer Camps
77 Paddling Events
6,374 Paddlers
10 Plantings and Restoration Projects
16 Water Quality Monitoring

Results by Year

Year in Review Reports

The Ripple Effect

The real impact of our work can't be measured in tons of trash or miles of river. It lives in the communities where children grow up seeing the Missouri River as a playground instead of a problem, where neighbors gather for cleanups that feel like family reunions, and where the river that once divided communities now brings them together.