One Mississippi’s fifth annual River Days of Action took place June 1 to 15, 2025, uniting thousands of people through a range of events and collective impact opportunities. A record-setting 78 organizations, community groups, and government units participated this year, offering an expansive collection of impactful opportunities. Events included cleanups and habitat restoration, captivating webinars, community celebrations, outdoor recreation, engaging activities for youth and families, and more. From Headwaters to Gulf and beyond, River Days unites us in shaping a stronger, healthier Mississippi River for generations to come.

River Days of Action has solidified its role as a cornerstone of collaboration and leadership along the Mighty Mississippi, with 2025 results highlighting its far-reaching impact: 

A New Tradition is Born: National Mississippi River Day

River Days of Action 2025 started with a swell of excitement: the first-ever National Mississippi River Day on June 2! Communities from Minnesota to Louisiana joined in celebration through proclamations, in-person and virtual events, and widespread media outreach. This new national day spotlighted the urgent challenges—and real solutions—facing the people, land, water, and wildlife of our Mighty Mississippi. It sparked fresh momentum and set the tone for two weeks of powerful, on-the-ground action. The inaugural celebration exceeded expectations, with 15 proclamations and resolutions issued by four states, 10 cities, and one county, ushering in national engagement and enthusiastic support from local leaders and partners. National Mississippi River Day made history—and proved that people are ready to rally around the River like never before!

Beyond Numbers: Protecting the River, Strengthening Community

River Days of Action isn’t just about numbers — it’s also about people showing up, speaking out, and connecting with the River and one another. It weaves together distinct communities, voices, and landscapes into a powerful story of care and shared commitment. Whether paddling for the first time, pulling invasive species, learning about cultural connections, or cleaning up a beloved local waterway, participants experience firsthand what it means to protect and belong to a thriving community that the Mississippi River can count on.

These collective experiences remind us that protecting the Mississippi isn’t just an environmental goal — it’s a human one. It’s about community identity, belonging, and working together to create a better world for future generations. The success of this year’s River Days was felt not just in attendance or pounds of trash collected, but in the stories, conversations, and relationships built along the way:  

These kinds of moments — full of dialogue, dedication, and shared vision — define what makes River Days of Action so impactful. They represent not only what we’re working to protect, but also how we build the movement to protect it, and how, together, we're acting as One Mississippi.

Thank You

A big River thank-you to all the organizations, sponsors, volunteers, River Citizens, elected officials, local, state, and federal governmental units and agencies, members of the press and media, and all the participants who made River Days of Action 2025 possible. From planning to promotion to paddling and planting, your effort shows what’s possible when we come together to protect the River that sustains us all.

2025 Participating Organizations (alphabetical order)

A House Unbuilt, American Rivers, ArtOpener, Audubon Center at Riverlands, Brown's Creek Watershed District, City of Cottage Grove, City of Elk River, City of Hastings, City of Inver Grove Heights, City of Savanna, Clean River Advisory Council, Clean Wisconsin, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Delta State University, Delta Center for Culture and Learning, Delta Waterfowl, Dubuque County Conservation, Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency, East Moline Police Benevolent Association Unit #1, Friends of Pool 2, Friends of the Mississippi River, Friends of William H. Houlton Conservation Area, Great River Greening, Great River Greenway, Great River Passage Conservancy, Green Interchange, Green Lands Blue Waters, Harpeth Conservancy, Hastings Environmental Protectors, Healthy Gulf, Hennepin History Museum, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Environmental Council, Illinois River Biological Station, Iowa Water Watch, Izaak Walton League Iowa Division, Kids and Mentors Outdoors, Kindred Nature, Living Lands and Waters, Lower Mississippi River Foundation, League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region, Marvet Mississippi, Minnesota Canoe Association, Mississippi Aquarium, Mississippi Park Connection, Mississippi River Paddle Share, Mississippi River Parkway Commission, Mississippi River Water Trail Association , Mississippi Speed Record, Mississippi Valley Traveler, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Missouri Botanical Garden, National Audubon Society, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, National Park Service – MNRRA, Nahant Marsh, Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, One Mississippi, Quapaw Canoe Company, rivers are life, Stewards of Upper Mississippi River Refuge, St. Louis Aquarium Foundation, St. Paul Bird Alliance, Storyworks Theater, Tennessee Environmental Council, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, The Nature Conservancy (Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri), Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law & Policy, Two Paddles LLC, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Geological Survey, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Urban Boat Builders, Water Walkers, Wilderness Inquiry, Wilderness Mindset, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

List of Events:

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