2007 Clean-Up Results
Hands on, on the river
It’s been seven years since our first blockbuster clean-up on the Missouri River. The timing, motivation and vision was right, and since then Missouri River Relief has grown into a multi-state phenomenon, bringing people of different backgrounds, occupations and interests together for one purpose: doing something positive to make the Missouri River a better place.
When we began, we saw that the Missouri River was a neglected and overlooked resource by most of the valley’s residents. Since then, interest has grown and much work has been done by government agencies, individuals and organizations to bring attention to the problems and promises of this shared resource. Missouri River Relief offers a chance for everyone to come together on the river itself to do something about it.
Right now is a time of change on the Missouri River. The groundwork has been laid for a multi-state, multi-tribe, multi-stakeholder work group that will help direct future recovery efforts along the Missouri. Known as the MRRIC (Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee), it is a chance for new cooperation. Missouri River Relief’s Vicki Richmond participated in the first stage of the process this year, with the mandate to work for transparency, inclusion and better communication with the citizenry.
It’s smarter to partner
It’s truly a time for individuals in this watershed to become engaged in the process, and Missouri River Relief plays an important part of this. The partnerships we’ve developed throughout the valley have served to connect different communities. We share this river. The river that flows by Omaha, NE, is the same river that St. Louis drinks. By putting people on the river to help clean her up, Missouri River Relief is putting the river back into the hearts of the people.