StreamSweepers was created in 2012 to help communities provide jobs and economic development through the removal of tires, plastics, and solid waste from streams and rivers in Virginia and Central Appalachia. In 2026, the program was transferred to the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable in Abingdon, Virginia.
Restoring People and Nature, One River at a Time
Final data as of December 31, 2025
Clinch River and Central Appalachia Cleanup (2017-2026)
The Clinch River’s unique biodiversity and environmental challenges captured the attention of American Climate Partners in 2016. In the past few years, Southwest Virginia has been hit with repeated catastrophic storm events, Hurricane Helene being one of the most recent, leaving massive amounts of debris in the rivers, floodplains, and hollows. StreamSweepers is the only year-round river clean-up service organization with paid and insured staff and the appropriate equipment to make a dent in these growing environmental and humanitarian crises. Learn more…
Hazel River Assessment
(2019)
Middle River Assessment
(2018 – current)
Mattaponi River Project
(2018)
Rappahannock River Project
(2017-2018)
Hughes River Project
(2015-2016)
Rapidan & Robinson Rivers Project (2013-2015)
Endocrine Disruptor Testing
Pursuing the connection between our stream health and human health.
Founders
StreamSweepers began in 2012 as an intriguing idea. There was no track record, no plan, and no budget. A handful of special people pulled out their wallets and said, “let’s make this happen.”
Anonymous
Teddy and Emily Grennan
Randy Hudgins
Mark and Ann Kington
Garnett and Lucille Morton
David and Elizabeth Perdue
Somerset Plantation
Charlotte Tieken
River Health Reports and Assessments
