The Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, has long been under-appreciated. Once regarded as polluted and untouchable, this vital body of water is now undergoing a cultural renaissance, thanks to the efforts of Willie Levenson and the Human Access Project (HAP). On this episode of Current Conversations, Willie shared how HAP is changing the way Portlanders see and interact with the Willamette River, fostering a relationship built on stewardship, celebration, and community.

Water connects us all, yet it’s often the smallest community efforts that create the biggest impact. In one of the latest episode of Current Conversations, a Rivers are Life podcast, environmental educator and certified interpretive guide Jennifer DuBey shares her inspiring journey in organizing the Sanford, Michigan storm drain stenciling initiative. This grassroots project is a shining example of how education and hands-on action can empower communities to protect their waterways.

From the beginning, Dow has been aligned with our goals at Rivers are Life, sharing our vision for a sustainable future. Our partnership exemplifies a mutual commitment to driving positive change in the face of pressing environmental challenges. Together, we showcase how collaborative efforts can lead to significant advancements in river sustainability and innovation. 

Caring for our planet starts with small, meaningful actions, and Rivers are Life is here to help you make an impact. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, eco-conscious advocate, or supporter of sustainable living, you’ll love our two incredible cleanup bag options designed for every adventure. Whether you're kayaking along a river, hiking a nearby trail, or hosting an organized cleanup event, these reusable bags make it easy to protect our precious environment. 

Magnet fishing is rapidly gaining popularity as a unique and adventurous hobby that combines environmental efforts with the thrill of treasure hunting. Participants use powerful, neodymium magnets, attached to sturdy ropes, to search rivers and waterways for metallic objects of all kinds. This activity, which can be as accessible as any local riverbank or waterfront, offers both excitement and the gratification of cleaning our natural water bodies. 

What happens when you blend rugged, dependable outdoor gear with a passion for protecting our rivers? You get an exceptional partnership between Grizzly and Rivers are Life! 

That’s right! We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Grizzly, a company that embodies more than just a brand name and the products it offers. As they state on their website, "At Grizzly, we are more than just a brand – we are a community dedicated to crafting high-quality gear for those who live and breathe adventure." This statement resonates deeply with us at Rivers are Life, where we aim to inspire action to protect, preserve, and explore the world’s rivers. Together, our brands are forging a dynamic partnership that embraces adventure and champions conservation, making a significant impact within the outdoor community. 

Rivers are the lifelines of our planet, coursing through landscapes, shaping ecosystems, and providing sustenance to both wildlife and humanity. However, the health of many rivers has been compromised by human activity, from pollution to damming. The good news is that restoration efforts around the globe are proving that it's possible to heal these vital waterways. Let's dive into some inspiring success stories, along with the valuable lessons learned and best practices that have emerged from these endeavors. 

On Friday, February 16th, Zach Green, President of BeAlive Studios, joined the Pattrn Show for a brief interview about Rivers are Life and our mission to amplify the voices of River Heroes across the globe.

In today’s busy world, finding ways to live sustainably doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Small, everyday choices add up. Here are seven practical tips to help you start making a difference:

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle… and Reimagine
Cut back on what you use, find new life for old items, and recycle responsibly. Think creatively before tossing things out—an empty jar could be storage or tomorrow’s DIY project.

Mr. Trash Wheel is an extraordinary invention that has revolutionized harbor cleanup in Baltimore. It all began in 2008 when John Kellett, a local engineer, came up with the idea to tackle the problem of trash in the city's Inner Harbor. He wanted to create a sustainable solution that could effectively remove trash from the water and prevent it from polluting the Chesapeake Bay.

Fishing in the Nile has a long and fascinating history that dates back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to recognize the abundance of fish in the river and harness its resources for sustenance. Fishing played a crucial role in their daily lives, providing a vital source of food and supporting their economy.

On June 27th, Ross Gibby, COO of CRDC Global, and Zach Green, President at BeAlive Studios, joined Pattrn to share about the Rivers are Life film, “Keepers of the North”.

In “Keepers of the North”, viewers of the film learn how a myriad of collaborators come together to address the issue of waste building up along Alaska’s shoreline. Litter collected by Gulf of Alaska Keepers (GoAK) is shipped to a CRDC facility in Pennsylvania where a better, more durable product is created from hard-to-break-down ocean plastics. This collaboration was made possible through the help of Pyrexa Global, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, FedEx, Dow, and Rivers are Life.

Cuando piensas en Los Ángeles, ¿qué te imaginas? Ahora intenta pensar como un pescador con mosca.

“When you’re standing on the LA River, it’s like fishing in any river,” says Lino Jubilado, an LA River fly fisherman. “You’ve got duck swimming around you; you’ve got geese guarding their nests. You can easily mask out all the sound from all the traffic of the freeways and the overpasses.”

Jubilado has been fishing the LA River for over 40 years. Early in the morning, he makes himself a cup of coffee, sits down, and ties flies. Then, he goes to the river.

That’s Max Steitz, co-founder of Glass Half Full, a grassroots glass recycling program based in New Orleans. Co-founder Franziska Trautmann adds with a laugh, “We were always hanging out in his creepy basement that he lived in and drinking wine from Trader Joe’s.”

They wondered, what’s the destiny of a glass bottle? Is it doomed to clutter our streets, landfills, and rivers? Modern glass takes about 4,000 years to decompose, but the average glass produced is estimated to stick around for 1 million years – that number is even higher if it’s in a landfill.

When we look at rivers, we’re usually just skimming the surface.

Flying alongside the St. Lawrence River are bald eagles, osprey, and black terns while muskrats, porcupines, and beavers scamper along the shore. If you dive beneath the fresh waters of the river though, you’ll see an ecosystem of smallmouth bass and freshwater gobies, nestled between chunks of rock reefs.

Nathalie Lasselin is a diver. While she’s explored the Arctic and underwater caves in China, she felt drawn back to the waters of her home – Montreal.

Patuxent Riverkeeper Fred Tutman and BeAlive Studios’ Kate Richter Green joined The Weather Channel’s Pattrn to discuss Voices from the Water. The film spotlights conservation leaders protecting the Patuxent, St. Lawrence, and Mississippi Rivers. Hear Tutman share his journey as Riverkeeper and the urgent challenges facing his watershed.

Every spring, Living Lands and Waters hosts what they like to call their Alternative Spring Break program: week-long volunteer trips for college students to meet new friends, learn about environmental issues facing our waterways, and play an active role in conservation. 

Students from across the country gather together and spend the week traversing river banks and lakeshores by foot and boat to clean up litter. The students work closely alongside the Living Lands and Water crew and get a first-hand look at what it’s like for the crew to live on the barge.