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PITTSBURGH, Pa., October 13, 2025 — Clean Currents, the premier national waterpower tradeshow and conference hosted by the National Hydropower Association (NHA), is setting sail in Pittsburgh with a hands on Clean Currents River Cleanup 2025

The cleanup will take place on Monday, October 13, from 1:00–3:00 p.m. ET, with participants meeting at the Kayak Pittsburgh Docks along the river outside of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center before heading out on the iconic Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers.

Hosted by the Worthington Products Clean Rivers Initiative, and presented in partnership with Allegheny Cleanways and Three Rivers Waterkeepers, this unique event embodies the Clean Currents mission: advancing hydropower innovation while giving back to the communities and waterways that sustain it.

“Pittsburgh’s three rivers are at the core of the city’s history, culture, and economy,” said Jared McCully, Director of the Clean Rivers Initiative, Worthington Products. “By working together to keep them clean, we’re not only protecting the environment but also highlighting how hydropower professionals can contribute to healthier, more resilient river systems nationwide.”

Participants will board workboats at the docks adjacent to the Convention Center and cruise through downtown Pittsburgh, passing iconic bridges and riverfront landmarks. Crews will then dock at designated cleanup sites, where volunteers will roll up their sleeves and remove trash and debris from the shoreline.

The Worthington Clean Rivers Initiative looks to show how the hydro industry can lead both in powering the future and protecting the places we call home. Worthington launched the Second Life Barriers program in 2023, where the debris barrier designer and supplier, looks for legacy waterway barriers that can be refurbished, recycled, and redeployed to key waterways to help trap plastic pollution. In spring of 2025, Worthington partnered with the The Anacostia Watershed Society in deploying second life TUFFBOOMS along the Anacostia River. On a global scale Worthington , based out of Ohio, helped design and manufacture critical trash Interceptors with the The Ocean Cleanup. Experiencing extreme waterway conditions and flows surpassing 4 m/s, Interceptor 006 along Rio Las Vacas, has prevented over 25 million kgs of plastic waste from flowing in the ocean. Located in front of a hydropower facility supporting Guatemala City, this strategy of capturing floating plastic before it can be passed downstream has proven effective, as one of the world’s highest capture trash barriers.

The Second Life Barrier program looks to support the hydro community. If a hydro operator or dam owner, needs to remove a boom line and does not want the material to go to waste, reach out to Worthington Products, where the team can help find a local river cleanup organization who could help out the barriers to good use. “We ultimately want to avoid having these barriers which have surpassed their lifespan for use at dam find a new life. Through minor refurbishments and deliberate deployment, we can avoid these older booms from becoming trash in the landfill, to capturing trash in the river … in other words, we want your trash,” McCully noted.

Community cleanups like the Three Rivers event have immediate and lasting impact: removing debris that harms wildlife, clogs infrastructure, and diminishes public spaces. By engaging

industry professionals in Pittsburgh, the cleanup demonstrates hydropower’s local benefits and equips attendees to bring similar efforts to their own communities.

“Hydropower is about stewardship and sustainability,” said McCully. “The Three Rivers Cleanup shows how our industry can lead both in powering the future and protecting the places we call home.”

(Pictures from Three Rivers Cleanup’s social media.)

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Participation in the cleanup is free for Clean Currents attendees, but spots are limited. Registered participants should add the cleanup to their Clean Currents schedule to reserve a seat on the boats.

WHAT TO BRING

Volunteers should come dressed for outdoor conditions and river activity. Recommended:

· Waterproof or sturdy shoes

· Weather-appropriate attire and sun protection