River Keepers, the 32-year-old non-profit advocate for the safe and sustainable use of the Red River, was honored with Moorhead’s MoorHeart Award for outstanding service.

Mayor Shelly Carlson presented the award to executive director Christine Holland and project coordinator Kimberly Morris at Monday’s city council meeting.

In nominating the organization, Parks Director Holly Heitkamp told the council its more than 2,000 volunteers have helped mark storm drains, planted trees and shrubs, conducted water quality monitoring, and cleaned up litter in vacant homeless encampments. “Their efforts help keep the Red River clean for community use,” she said. Recent efforts have seen them remove several hundred pounds of wet and muddy bags in just a short section of Snakey Creek, taken 46 discarded tires out of the river, and hosted some 2,000 4th graders annually at its their Water Fesival.

“Their efforts improve Moorhead’s quality of living, provide exceptional education opportunities for Moorhead’s youth and adults, and advocate for safe and sustainable use of the Red,” she added.

The monthly MoorHeart Award is designed to highlight examples of what Carlson called “the MoorHeart spirit.” Award winners are selected by a team of volunteers from city boards and commissions who review nominations submitted by members of the public. For more information on submitting candidates, go to www.cityofmoorhead.com and search for MoorHeart.