The First Coordinated Waterway Cleanup in Louisiana

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and KLB encourage volunteers ahead of new cleanup kickoff, Love Our Waterways

BATON ROUGE (press release) – Love Our Waterways, a new initiative inspired by Love the Boot Week, officially kicks off next week on Sep. 1. 

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) urge Louisianians to register cleanup events and volunteer for Love Our Waterways, the state’s first coordinated, month-long shoreline and waterway cleanup initiative.

Organizers share that momentum for Love Our Waterways continues to build across the state with more than 140 cleanup events already registered in communities throughout Louisiana.

Additional events are being added each week as businesses, schools, civic organizations, outdoor groups, families and volunteers commit to cleaning rivers, lakes, bayous, beaches, canals and shorelines during September.

“Louisiana’s waterways are part of who we are,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “They fuel our economy, support our seafood and tourism industries and provide endless opportunities for fishing, boating, paddling and outdoor recreation.”

Statewide Waterway Cleanup Info

Inspired by the success of Love the Boot Week, organizers formed Love Our Waterways to:

• Reduce litter before it reaches the Gulf
• Protect fish and wildlife habitats
• Improve water quality
• Preserve the natural beauty that makes Louisiana a Sportsman’s Paradise.

The first 200 registered cleanup events are eligible to receive a volunteer supply box, while supplies last.

“Research shows that nearly 80% of marine litter originates on land where wind and rain carry trash into storm drains, ditches, bayous, rivers and eventually the coast,” said Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful Susan Russell.

“It’s exciting to see so many communities already stepping up, but we need even more volunteers to make this inaugural statewide effort a success,” said Nungesser. I encourage everyone to register a cleanup today and help us make September a month of action for Louisiana’s waterways.”

Volunteers can participate in a variety of ways, including:

• Organize or join a shoreline cleanup. 
• Clean waterways by kayak, canoe, paddleboard or motorized boat.
• Remove litter from neighborhood storm drains and roadside ditches before it reaches local waterways.
• Volunteer with a registered cleanup event.
• Share cleanup efforts on social media to inspire others. 

Participants are also encouraged to document the types of litter collected and report larger debris such as abandoned vessels, derelict crab traps and other oversized items that require specialized removal. This information will help guide future cleanup efforts and support partner agencies working to improve Louisiana’s waterways.

Individuals and organizations can register a cleanup event, volunteer for an existing event, or learn more by visiting LoveLAWaterways.org.

This initiative is made possible in part through the generous support of Dow Chemical, Franks Foundation, Keep America Beautiful, Niagara Cares, Airboat Adventures, Livingston Tourism, Pinnacle Polymers, Waldemar S. Nelson and Company, Inc., Roy O. Martin, Crescent River Port Pilots’ Association, Port of Krotz Springs, Cleco, Five-S Group, The Kearny Companies, Port NOLA, Premier Plaza, Pontchartrain Materials Corp., South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission and in-kind donors Hospitality Enterprise and Pigeon Catering.