This year on Saturday May 2nd, the park staff of the Missouri National Recreational River planned and led yet another fantastic Missouri River Cleanup.

Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River was proud to help support the 20th Missouri River Cleanup, continuing a community tradition that has brought volunteers and partners together for two decades to care for the Missouri River.

a group photo of people in front of a picnic shelter with a banner spread across is that reads, "Annual Missouri River Cleanup, Missouri National Recreational River"

Group photo of volunteers, partners, and park staff at the 20th Missouri River Cleanup

a park ranger stands in front of a crowd of people outside

MNRR Superintendent, David Thomson, welcomes volunteers to the 20th Missouri River Cleanup and shares the importance of the National Park Service mission.

41 volunteers braved some chilly morning temps and came together to remove litter and debris from islands, shorelines, trails, parks, and public access areas along the Missouri National Recreational River near Yankton, SD. Their efforts are part of a remarkable legacy of stewardship. Since 2005, Missouri River Cleanup volunteers have removed more than 100 tons of trash from the river and surrounding areas.

Volunteers split into both river-based and land-based cleanup crews. With boats operated by the National Park Service and partners from Yankton Search and Rescue, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, river crews traveled to Sisters Island, Green Island, Rush Island, and several shoreline areas to collect trash from places that are difficult to access without boats.

Land-based volunteers focused their efforts on Paddlewheel Point, the Auld-Brokaw Trail, and Riverside Park, helping clean up well-used community spaces where people walk, bike, fish, gather, and enjoy the river.

a group of people stand together for a group photo, kids in the front row pose with some trash and debris

Land crew volunteers pose with their trash haul at Paddlewheel Point. These dedicated folks collected four bags worth of trash, 3 tires, 2 wooden structures, and 1 mass of rusted metal rebar.

FOMNRR’s Executive Director, Caroline Ver Mulm, might’ve had the weirdest find of the day…a Toshiba computer monitor.

Throughout the morning, volunteers found and removed all kinds of litter and debris, including bottles, food wrappers, Styrofoam coolers, tires, metal rebar, and more. The City of Yankton was also a tremendous help, providing a truck and loader to haul away the collected trash.

While the final total of trash collected is still being calculated, the impact of the day was clear: cleaner shorelines, safer public spaces, and a stronger reminder of what can happen when a community comes together for the river.

Friends of the MNRR is grateful to the many volunteers, agencies, and community partners who make this event possible year after year.

We are especially thankful for the support of the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, whose generosity helped Friends of the MNRR provide coffee and donuts for volunteers in the morning and lunch following the cleanup. Their support helped us give back to the volunteers who gave their time, energy, and effort to care for the Missouri River.

The Missouri River Cleanup is more than a one-day event. It is a long-standing tradition of stewardship, service, and shared responsibility for one of our region’s most important natural resources. Together, we are helping keep the river cleaner, healthier, and more enjoyable for future generations.

View the gallery below to see more photos from the cleanup.