Go to http://www.openspacestl.org/operation-clean-stream for more information.

Founded in 1967, OPERATION CLEAN STREAM is one of America’s longest and largest ongoing river restoration projects, continuing for 40 years now. The annual event attracts nearly 2,000 volunteers from various age groups and backgrounds, to the Meramec River and its tributaries including the Big, Bourbeuse, Courtois and Huzzah Rivers. Furthermore, agencies and organizations at the local, state and national levels have recognized this program as a key environmental event in the St. Louis Region.

Volunteers are invited to participate as individuals or with a group. Volunteers can boat, float in canoes or work in shore parties on an assigned section of the Meramec, Big, Bourbeuse, Courtois or Huzzah Rivers. Volunteers should be prepared to work hard and get dirty removing trash, tires and debris of all kinds from the river and river banks. All cleanup supplies are provided.

People of all ages and abilities are welcome, but children must have adequate adult supervision.

To float, you must provide your own canoe. Farther down on this page you will find a list of canoe outfitters that give discounts on rental canoes to Operation Clean Stream participants. If you plan on floating a section of the river to clean, please contact us so that we can put in charge of the organizer of your section of the river. If you do not have a particular section in mind, we can assign you to a section of the river.