Speaker makes it his business to clean up waters

April 29, 2009
By Nathan Harmon
Staff Writer

Called by Outside magazine “The dude over troubled waters,” Chad Pregracke presented a speech in Brookens Auditorium last week in honor of Earth Day.

Pregracke, founder of the non-profit organization Living Lands and Waters, told a story imbued with the message to never give up.

Karen Moranski, Vice Chancellor of Undergraduate Education, ushered Pregracke onto the stage with an introductory speech that gave a long list of Pregracke’s achievements. Calling him “a Modern Day Huck Finn,” for his affinity for the Mississippi, on which he was raised, Moranski proceeded to list his various accomplishments.

“80 bikes, two pianos, 102 TVs, 55,192 tires, and 42 messages in bottles,” Moranski said, are just some of the thrown away things that he has picked up.

Pregracke has tens of thousands of volunteers and has earned 40 awards, including the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service, given to him by Laura Bush, former first lady, Moranski said.

He grew up right alongside the Mississippi River, Pregracke explained of his childhood. For six summer seasons, he shell-dived in the Mississippi, which he described as difficult, but rewarding.

Even as a teen, he was aware of a lot of garbage on the river.

So piece by piece, he began picking up the garbage. He had more trouble piecing together a business plan, so his efforts could be supported monetarily and bloom into an enterprise.

“I struck out for four years,” Pregracke said of his project. But with the right effort, he eventually succeeded. 

Now, Living Lands and Waters, Pregracke’s company, cleans the Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio Rivers of various waste.

“[It’s the] only cleanup operation like it in the world,” he said.

According to Pregracke, he has 11 full-time staff members, and eight that live on a barge that carries garbage and recyclable waste. Many others volunteer during alternative spring breaks, as well.

“I may have a show on the Discovery channel,” Pregracke added.

He declared that anyone's dreams are “feasible;” People can achieve great things with their lives if they so desire.

Pregracke is a living testament to that statement.

What started as one piece of garbage has become 4 million pounds, according to Pregracke's website, http://www.livinglandsandwaters.org, where one can find information on how to play a part in this movement.