IMPACT

Tires Removed

Hazards Remediated

Miles Cleared

Hazards Reported

People Impacted

Mission and Impact

Did you know there are over 100,000 miles of floatable waterways in the United States? Have you ever wondered who is responsible for their safety to the public, usage, or environmental impact? It’s been a complicated answer- until NOW.

Through River Rangers International, there is now a way to communicate river hazards and repair damaged areas of our waterways.

As a Social Enterprise, 501 (c) 3 Organization- River Rangers communicate with the government and other regulatory agencies responsible for waterways and makes a plan for remediation. Then We Get to Work!

Two Ways We Keep Waterways Safe and Clean:

KNOWN ISSUES

Large Woody Debris Remediation
Bank Stabilization Projects
Legacy Dump Sites within Riparian Corridors

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Scouting Assessments
Hazard Reporting
Waterway Impact Fund

How You Can Help

With additional support, we can bring more projects to completion each year by:

Improving our Hazard Reporting
Offer More Conservation Classes
Mapping More Miles of Waterways
Clear More Blocked Waterways
Expand Our Reach
Increase Content Production
Assist More People with Permit Acquisition
Create and Protect More Riparian Habitat
Improving GIS Modeling
Protecting More Streambanks
Removing More Tires

Scouting Assessments

Scouting assessments are crucial for collecting data needed to bring any waterway remediation project to fruition. Once a waterway has been scouted for natural and man-made hazards, flood concerns, erosion issues, and other issues of note, the results are compiled into a report.

Scouting assessments are like strategic plans for the waterway. When completed, they are also a collaborative gift to the community to utilize to improve recreation, economic development, etc. River Rangers rarely charge for this crucial first step in any waterway project. Click Here to learn more about Scouting Assessments.

Hazard Reporting

Hazard reporting requires community involvement as well. Using our unique mapping software, recreators are able to submit hazard reports to River Rangers that are displayed for public knowledge and use. Just like other crowd source services, Hazard Reporting relies on recreators to submit a simple report through their mobile device.

Once a report is submitted to River Rangers, it is available to view on our website hazard map which can be found here. Thanks to the help and support of other recreators, people can have a better understanding of potential dangers on the water during their next outing. Click here to Report a Hazard or Learn More.

Waterway Impact Fund

River Rangers is establishing a fund housed at the Columbus Foundation to support waterway remediation projects. This fund will accept applications and award grantees twice annually. Click Here to learn more about the Waterway Impact Fund.

Get Involved

As a nonprofit, River Rangers’ mission is Keeping Waterways Safe and Clean, which is enriching quality of life for communities across the country.

Each project takes high level strategy, labor hours in the field, & highly specific tools & materials to bring a project to completion. We could not continue to achieve our mission without the support of the communities that have and continue to embrace our mission. Thank you for your continued support of these initiatives.

Please consider a gift today. Click Here to GIVE NOW.

Testimonials

The River Rangers have graciously helped Paddle for Heroes on several occasions. They provided professional water safety for a 5K SUP and kayak race fundraiser. Most recently, they helped clear several large trees blocking the Kokosing River. This allowed Paddle for Heroes to safely paddle the Kokosing River during our 160 mile Mount Vernon to Marietta paddle.

Stephen Fleming Founder - Paddle For Heroes

It has been an extreme pleasure to work alongside of the River Rangers. They are not only extremely professional, they are simply good dudes that are easy to get along with ! We both have such a great passion for the safe, fun and assessable river fun. By combining our expertise together we have created some fun and exciting opportunities for river enthusiasts. I look forward to building out more opportunities in the future, for I simply know they will be great !

Bear Davis Owner/Operator - Pea Ohana Watersports

I love to fish and gig from my canoe and I know how much of a pain it can be for snags and strainers to build up on the river. Hats off to these River Rangers for keeping the rivers safe and clean.

Bob Kreager

The Redneck Turtle Catcher

I have known the Rangers both professionally and personally for many years. Their leadership and development savvy is second to none. They are keeping people safe and training the next generation of leaders on the water. I am proud to call them friends and colleagues.

Karin Cox, MFA

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Hartsook Companies

As a river bank homeowner, I can attest to the erosion damage that high, fast water can do. The River Rangers got the necessary permits and did a professional job of building a base for the natural flow of the river to complete and restore our bank. What is even better, their repair work looks natural from the other side of the river.

Hope Taft VP, Ohio Scenic Rivers Association, and Chair Emeritus, Little Miami Watershed Network

It was amazing to see the River Rangers stewardship in action. These river advocates passionately protect and restore waterways to ensure paddlers’ safety. I loved every minute volunteering and learning more about Ohio’s gorgeous riverways.

Karen Jennings Volunteer Coordinator, Licking County Parks and Recreation

Over the years River Rangers International have been awesome Paddle For Heroes Partners. They have volunteered as safety personnel on the water for some of our fundraiser and River clean up events. Most notably, last year they answered the call to clear debris from the Kokosing River with less than 5 days notice. Their hard work allowed 18 paddlers on the first leg of a 160 mile Veterans awareness kayak trip to paddle 34 miles with out having a portage.

Joey Butts Community Outreach Officer - PFH

“I’ve paddled many rivers with members of The River Rangers, and I can attest to their skill and passion for safety and enjoyment of our waterways. I was lucky enough to be with them when we got a 70+ year old paddler stuck in a strainer. Their preparedness and professionalism saved the day!”

Chad Hulboy

Software Developer, Racing Insights

We are excited to partner with the River Rangers to bring Wilderness Adventure Kayaking experiences to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities. The Rangers are all trained and certified in adaptive paddling. We are also partnering with them to bring corporate training programs to promote leadership, volunteerism, and inclusion. They even gave me a cool, honorary Ranger nickname – Rio!

Sharon Schreiber (Rio) Executive Director, Adaptive Sports Connection

I have seen first hand how the River Rangers work and I'm very impressed with their energy and dedication to our rivers. Their initial report on the condition of an 11.1 mile section of the Great Miami River will allow for safer passage of our volunteers during the Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River next month. Rando and Burn are ready to help and we look forward to having them with us in the future.

Jeff Lange Founder/Executive Director - POWW

The Rangers are amazing! Best on the water training and I love that they keep the rivers safe for my family.

Scott Lee

I've had the personal privilege to volunteer/work alongside River Rangers International. The first admirable action I noticed, was their assiduous nature for safety. River Rangers instill safety protocols for their team, the ecosystem and all who enjoy our waterways. They go above and beyond with every project I have witnessed, as they removed dangerous logs and debris, opening up safe passage for paddlers. They respectfully rebuild eroded riverbanks, while creating and restoring natural habitats. River Rangers International is a huge asset to our communities, as they continue to raise the bar for river safety, while using soft hands to benefit nature.

Rosemarie Caskey

Outdoor Enthusiast/ Kayaker