Missouri River Relief Celebrates 25 Years Of Service

For 25 years, Missouri River Relief has worked to connect communities to the Missouri River through stewardship, education and recreation.

The organization’s current focus is the Big Muddy Clean Sweep, a series of river cleanups taking place from August 12 through September 29. The effort begins in Kansas City and will end at Cooper’s Landing, bringing volunteers and Missouri River Relief crews together to remove trash and debris from the river and its banks.

The Big Muddy Clean Sweep builds on Missouri River Relief’s history of large-scale cleanup efforts. The organization’s first cleanup took place in 2001, bringing volunteers together to remove trash from the Missouri River. Since then, cleanup efforts have grown into a major part of the organization’s mission.

In 2021, during its 20th anniversary, Missouri River Relief organized a two-month cleanup covering nearly 200 miles between Kansas City and Columbia. That effort involved 343 volunteers and resulted in the removal of 23.6 tons of trash.

While cleanups provide a hands-on way for volunteers to help the river, interim Executive Director Kevin Tosie said Missouri River Relief also wants participants to better understand where the pollution comes from.

“There’s a disconnect,” he said.

Much of the trash found in the Missouri River does not come from someone directly throwing a bottle or other piece of garbage into the water. Instead, debris can travel from streets through storm drains and streams before eventually reaching the Missouri River, Tosie said.

That connection between communities and the river is an important part of Missouri River Relief’s stewardship efforts. The organization hopes volunteers take what they learn during cleanups and consider how their choices regarding disposable items and waste can affect the river.

Despite the increased awareness surrounding plastic pollution and river stewardship, Tosie said the organization has not necessarily seen the amount of new trash in the river decrease dramatically.

“We’ve been doing this for 25 years, so the locations that we hit year after year do look better, but there is still no shortage of single-use plastic and Styrofoam year after year,” he said.

The continued presence of plastic pollution is one of the challenges Missouri River Relief is working to address.

“I think I see more awareness, and I see more people connected to the Missouri River, but it’s hard to say as I’m sitting here looking at a pile of trash that the problem is getting a lot better,” Tosie said.

Cleanup efforts are only one part of Missouri River Relief’s programming. Education is another major component of the organization’s work, with programs designed to give students hands-on experiences on and around the Missouri River.

The organization’s 2026 calendar includes Missouri River Days, Mornings at the River, Missouri River Adventure Camp, virtual field trips and other educational programs. Missouri River Days programming is scheduled to continue into the fall with programs for students in Columbia, southern Boone County and Jefferson City.

Missouri River Relief also uses recreation as another way to connect people with the waterway.

In July, the organization hosted the MR340, a 340-mile race from Kansas City to St. Charles. Tosie said this year’s event included about 623 racers in 404 boats, marking the 21st year of the program.

The MR340 is one of several recreational opportunities Missouri River Relief offers throughout the year. The organization’s 2026 schedule also includes the Race to the Dome, which will take place October 3 and offers 16- and 26-mile courses ending at Wilson’s Serenity Point at Noren Access in Jefferson City.

Although the programs vary from cleanups to paddling races and educational field trips, each is designed to accomplish the same broader goal of connecting people with the Missouri River.

For Missouri River Relief, that connection is especially important as the organization celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The nonprofit’s history began in 2001 and has grown from its early cleanup efforts into a broader program. Over the years, volunteers, community members, sponsors and partners have played a significant role in helping the organization expand its reach along the river.

The 25th anniversary will continue through the fall, with Missouri River Relief scheduled to hold an anniversary celebration at Cooper’s Landing on October 10.

For Tosie, continuing that work is the organization’s biggest goal for the remainder of 2026.

“I think just continuing the good work is honestly all I can ask for,” he said.

That work depends heavily on the community. Missouri River Relief is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations, volunteers, sponsors and other community support to continue its programs.

As the organization moves through its 25th year, Missouri River Relief will continue working to bring people onto the river, teach them about its importance and encourage them to take an active role in protecting the Missouri River for future generations.

Featured photo caption: Missouri River Relief volunteers remove a discarded tire from the banks of the Missouri River during a Big Muddy Clean Sweep cleanup. The annual cleanup brings volunteers together to remove debris and help protect the river and its surrounding environment. (Photo credit to Missouri River Relief)