Michigan Waterways Stewards

Join Us On Our Mission

Join us in our mission to protect, care for, and improve our treasured and vulnerable waterways. It is our vision to make Michigan's inland rivers, creeks, and lakes, the envy of our industrial Great Lakes states.

Treasure Michigan's Precious Waterways.

Michigan is blessed with an abundance of fresh water, more than any other state. We have access to four Great Lakes; Michigan, Superior, Huron and Erie. Running through our state we have approximately 51,438 miles of river, of which 656 miles are designated as wild and scenic.

Yet, in our capital city our waterways were under threat. There may be no greater example than with our Grand River, our state's largest river at 252 miles. Less than two miles from our state's capital building there were terrible examples of water pollution and stretches of river that had been allowed to worsen for years.

Our capital city's rivers conditions were so bad, it was evident a different approach was needed. This led to our creating Michigan Waterways Stewards. A registered non-profit dedicated to caring, protecting and improving our treasured and vulnerable waterways.

With the support of local business and industry, schools and churches, social and civic clubs, passionate individuals, and local government, in just over a year our capital city's rivers were transformed. We now present Michigan's most scenic, varied, and pleasant urban waterways destination.

We're Michigan's #1 Waterways Stewardship Organization.

We have been thrilled by the interest, excitement, and rapidly growing offers of support. Since our beginning in November of 2022 we have managed 180 projects, mobilized over 1,640 volunteers, removed over 103,000 pounds of litter and trash, and created impact across 10 mid-Michigan communities.

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We take a year round, community-wide, collaborative, approach toward stewardship. We provid everything needed to conduct a waterways stewardship project. Whether it be a two person EcoTour or a 400 person community-wide event, we can manage.

Because of the generous support of so many fine organizations and our awesome volunteers, we have quickly grown to become Michigan's largest waterways stewardship organization of its type. While excited about the results, we and humbled by the many compliments:
• “Michigan Waterways Stewards is the best thing that has ever happened to our local rivers.”
• “Your organization is exactly what we need in the State of Michigan.”
• “River Stewardship is Healthy Again.”
• "Such an incredible transformation. I am blown away by the grass root efforts."
• "We are so stoked and happy to be a part of such an important event and movement!"

There are a number of ways in which you help make Michigan's rivers become cleaner, healthier, and more pleasant to use. To list a few; volunteer with one of our many community-wide events, organize a small volunteer group or large team building event, or consider becoming an Adopt A River partner. Financial gifts and in-kind donations are very much appreciated.

Join us. Make a lasting impact. Experience the joy and ease in which we accomplish great things when working together.

The best is yet to come. Our plans are to leverage our learnings, improve and expand our programming, and take our campaign across the state. We have already created impact in our capital city (Lansing), East Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Jackson. We are now in the early planning stages for what will be our argest waterways stewardship even to be held this fall in Marshall, Michigan.

If you would like to learn more about what we do and how you can support, drop us a note, we would love to hear from you.