Clean Your River!

We offer public river cleanup events a few times per year, but you also can request a private event, where Riverkeeper staff will lead your group on an informative riverside litter cleanup.  You can also request supplies for a DIY cleanup.  We will lend you pickers, bags, and gloves, help you pick a location if needed, and haul away the trash after you are done.  Perfect for a group that wants to volunteer but needs more flexibility! Sign up below.

Sign up for a public river cleanup

Request a River Cleanup

Thank you to our program sponsor, Northwest Renewables!

River Cleanup Details

Our Spokane River Program clean up removes trash from the banks and the bottom of the Spokane River by foot and by boat. We partner with the Spokane River Forum to organize private, public, and DIY cleanup. If your group would like to volunteer, please send me an email ([email protected]) or fill out the form below, and we can arrange a clean up (we provide supplies)! If you’d like to join our public River Cleanups, sign up for our email list and we will notify you (we typically hold one or two a year). Or make sure to sign up for the annual Great Spokane River Cleanup the third weekend of September, hosted by our friends at the Spokane River forum and the Lands Council. Our work is also partially funded through a generous grant from the Department of Ecology’s Community Litter Cleanup Program (CLCP) administered by Spokane County Detention Services. Our disposal fees are covered by the City of Spokane.

Current Litter Totals

River cleanups are a great way to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while also doing something for the river.

River cleanups are a great way to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while also doing something for the river.

If you have a special spot along the river you’d like help cleaning up, let us know!

If you have a special spot along the river you’d like help cleaning up, let us know!

A typical river clean up involves walking the banks of the Spokane River, along paths or uneven surfaces.

A typical river clean up involves walking the banks of the Spokane River, along paths or uneven surfaces.

The kids at Summit School found a good use for all the trash they collected on their river clean up.  A trash monster costume!

The kids at Summit School found a good use for all the trash they collected on their river clean up. A trash monster costume!

A typical haul includes bikes, shopping carts, clothing, plastic, and sleeping bags.

A typical haul includes bikes, shopping carts, clothing, plastic, and sleeping bags.

Our friends at Wiley Waters helped us out one day.  Luckily they brought their 16 foot raft.

Our friends at Wiley Waters helped us out one day. Luckily they brought their 16 foot raft.

Our summer 2018 intern Jillian Howell snorkeling for trash.

Our summer 2018 intern Jillian Howell snorkeling for trash.

Sean Visintainer of Silver Bow Fly Shop helped us remove over 200 tires from the banks and bottom of the Spokane River.

Sean Visintainer of Silver Bow Fly Shop helped us remove over 200 tires from the banks and bottom of the Spokane River.

2023 Earth Day River Cleanup Photo Gallery

270 volunteers removed 7,500 pounds of trash from the shoreline of the Spokane River on April 22nd, 2023. Thank you to our sponsors for making this happen!