09/16/2026
Sometimes, lots of little, seemingly insignificant things can add up to one big problem. For our fall clean-up, we wanted to highlight how microplastics can add up quickly in our riverfront.
Our team spent the afternoon cleaning up a small portion of the Kinnikinnic River. When the waves crash over the riverwalk, this is where trash from Lake Michigan collects. Trash that would otherwise pollute our waterways and potentially be consumed by wildlife. According to the Alliance for the Great Lakes, more than 22 million pounds of plastic pollution ends up in the Great Lakes each year. Each piece removed, no matter how small, makes a difference in our ecosystem.
We’re proud to keep our section of the Kinnickinnic River clean today, tomorrow and for the last 4 years as part of Milwaukee Riverkeeper's Adopt-a-River program.