Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
Spreading Big Muddy Love - 18 years with Missouri River Relief


Missouri River Relief is a nonprofit based in Columbia, MO, that works in communities along the Missouri River from St. Louis to Omaha. They are well known for organizing river clean-ups on the Big Muddy, but their real secret mission is to make the Missouri River cool again. Since their start in 2001, they have grown to also organize education events with students and teachers, river races, habitat restoration, film festivals, art auctions and more. Whatever they can do to bring people to the Missouri River to fall in love with it.
Program manager Steve Schnarr will join us to share some stories and videos of 18 years working on the Missouri River.
Meet Your Presenter

Steve Schnarr
, Missouri River Relief
Related Presentations
Resources & Links
Here’s some links for more cool River Relief stuff:
- Missouri River Relief website
- River Notes: The Missouri River Relief Blog
- River Relief media archive – videos, articles and more
- Photos
- Missouri River MegaScout blog
- Results from Missouri River Relief clean-ups
- ARTICLE - "River Warriors" by Brett Dufur, Missouri Conservationist magazine
- ARTICLE - "We Experience the River" by Karen Cernich, Washington Missourian
The Big Muddy Speakers Series in St. Charles
is hosted by these wonderful partners:
All speakers are presenting for free and Big A’s is sharing the space for free! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Rocheport and Kansas City.
A special thank you to Greg Poleski of Greenway Network for making this happen!
Upcoming Presentations

Missouri River Relief: 25 Years on the Big Muddy
November 10, 2026Columbia, MO
Join us for a journey through time celebrating 25 years of Missouri River Relief's work on the Big Muddy.
See Event
Plastic Pollution, Gulf Hypoxia, and Water Quality
November 11, 2026St Charles, MO
Jennifer Wendt from MidAmerica Clean Future guides us through understanding regional water quality challenges.
See Event