Three Rivers Waterkeeper was founded in 2009. Our mission is to protect the water quality of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, which form the headwaters of the Ohio River Basin. The Ohio River starts at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela in Pittsburgh and charts a course across the Midwest before flowing into the Mississippi River. Its watershed covers 205,000 square miles across 15 states, from New York to Mississippi. While the Ohio River forms the border of five states, ultimately it unites 30 million people-five million of whom rely on it for drinking water. Our waterways are also home to a variety of animals and plants including endangered species, such as the salamander mussel. On or along the Allegheny River alone, the US Forest Service has documented over 50 mammals, 200 birds, 25 amphibians, 20 reptiles, 80 fishes, and 25 freshwater mussels. What's more, our rivers serve as a source of recreation and a way to connect people to nature through positive experiences on our waterways.