Living Lands & Waters
A barge-based river cleanup crew that, with more than 141,000 volunteers, has pulled over 14 million pounds of trash from U.S. rivers (organization figure).
Image: NASA/JPL (PIA23534, Mississippi River).
Last reviewed: 1 source cited
Explain Like I'm 10
- Living Lands & Waters is a team that lives on a big boat called a barge.
- They travel down rivers and pick up trash with help from volunteers.
- They have picked up more than 14 million pounds of trash and planted millions of trees.
The Five W's of Living Lands & Waters
Who
Living Lands & Waters, a nonprofit founded in 1998 and based in East Moline, Illinois.
What
River cleanups, tree plantings and workshops run from a working barge, with volunteers doing the hauling.
When
Since 1998; the crew lives and travels on the barge up to nine months a year.
Where
America's major rivers, starting with the Mississippi River and its All the land where rain and snow drain into the same river or lake. Glossary.
Why
Trash dumped or washed into rivers harms wildlife and the water that towns use.
Impact Statement
Nonprofit solution · active
Living Lands & Waters reports 14,233,270 pounds of trash removed, 141,360 volunteers engaged and 2,496,900 trees planted (organization figures).
Source: Living Lands & Waters, Mission and History
For Further Information: Living Lands & Waters, Mission and History
Living Lands & Waters volunteers have pulled more than 14 million pounds of trash out of U.S. rivers.
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Cleanups give volunteers a hands-on way to care for their own river, and the group has taught more than 31,000 students (organization figure).
Source: Living Lands & Waters, Mission and History
For Nature
Removing tires, barrels and plastic from riverbanks keeps it out of fish habitat, and millions of planted trees help hold riverbanks together.
Support Living Lands & Waters
Want to go deeper? Living Lands & Waters has the full story.
For Further InformationRelated Solutions
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For Teachers
Discussion questions
- What is Living Lands & Waters, and what problem does it help solve?
- Who is behind Living Lands & Waters, and where does the work happen?
- How does Living Lands & Waters help both people and nature? Use one fact from this page.
Sources are listed with each fact in the Five W's above.
Cite This Page
APA
Saving Planets. (n.d.). Living Lands & Waters. https://www.savingplanets.com/Living_Lands_and_Waters.html
MLA
"Living Lands & Waters." Saving Planets, https://www.savingplanets.com/Living_Lands_and_Waters.html.