They modeled the program after the riverkeepers of the British Isles who looked after private trout and salmon streams, usually for estates, manors and private fishing clubs. Over the years, Riverkeeper has evolved into an independent, member-supported organization that continues to prove itself as the premier guardian of the Hudson River, its tributaries and its watershed lands. A Keeper's clients are all the users of the represented watershed. Keeper programs employ a variety of strategies to enforce environmental laws including conducting water quality monitoring, participating in coastal planning, attending board meetings, educating the public and devising solutions to water quality problems, and if necessary, pursuing litigation as a final step to enforcement. At minimum, it is the Keeper's job to advocate compliance with environmental laws, respond to citizen complaints, identify problems which affect his or her body of water and devise appropriate remedies, serve as a living witness to the condition of the ecosystem, and be an advocate for the public's right to protect and defend the environment.
Keepers are part investigator, scientist, lawyer, lobbyist and PR agent.
The objective is to have a diverse bag of tools that allows the Keeper to get the job done. All Keepers have some kind of boat ranging in size from canoes to research vessels. Again, the rule of thumb is that each water body has its own unique set of challenges requiring its own unique strategy. Since 1983, the Keeper movement has spread quickly. With the assistance of the Alliance and other Keepers, new programs were started on water bodies across North and Central America modeled after the Hudson's program.