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Mission.Our mission is to protect the water quality of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, and their respective watersheds.
Vision.Our Vision is to have drinkable, fishable, swimmable water in the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio Rivers, and their respective watersheds.
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who we are.Three Rivers Waterkeeper (3RWK) was founded in 2009 and aims to improve and protect the water quality of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. These waterways are critical to the health, vitality, and economic prosperity of our region and communities.
We are both a scientific and legal advocate for the community, working to ensure our three rivers are protected and safe to drink, fish, swim and enjoy. |
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We are a waterkeeper.3RWK is a member organization of the Waterkeeper Alliance whose mission is to protect our right to clean water in communities around the world. The Alliance is a global movement of united organizations working for clean, healthy, and abundant water for all people and the planet. Together, we make up a vast network aimed at preserving and protecting our waters by connecting local Waterkeeper organizations and affiliates worldwide. Waterkeeper Alliance unites more than 300 Waterkeeper organizations and affiliates that are on the frontlines of the global water crisis, patrolling and protecting more than 2.5 million square miles of rivers, lakes and coastal waterways on six continents.
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Meet our Executive director.Heather Hulton VanTassel is an environmental conservationist passionate about nature-based solutions that lead to the sustainability of our planet and equality for all. Heather is a first generation college student; she received her B.S. in Biology and Minor in Chemistry from Carlow University. Heather went on to earn her doctorate degree in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The University in California, Riverside (UCR). Heather has held positions at UCR’s Center for Conservation Biology as a Research Specialist, Audubon South Carolina as a Program Manager of Sustainable Solutions, The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina as the State Conservation Coordinator, and at The Carnegie Museum of Natural History as the Assistant Director of Science and Research. Heather has a strong passion for both the environment and equity and believes that working towards sustainability also requires an equal effort towards social environmental justice.
Meet our whole team here! |
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protecting our water quality since 2009
on the water.There are enormous efforts by watershed organizations to collect and monitor water quality data in Western Pennsylvania. 3RWK partners with these organizations to create a scientific and legal approach to improving the water quality in our Three Rivers based on their water data sampling and our own patrols and visual assessments.
The presence of the 3RWK boat and kayaks on the three rivers is critical to improve the water quality through visible monitoring and patrols in areas where the threat to water quality is greatest. Threats that require rapid response and/or monitoring are reported to us by partner organizations, concerned citizens, and community groups. 3RWK maintains high quality monitoring and sampling technologies to thoroughly and credibly investigate pollution threats and incidents. The types of programs that are water-focused include:
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in the community.3RWK aims to build lasting relationships with those who utilize the rivers for recreation and empower them to become vocal water advocates. 3RWK informs our communities of the threats to our waterways, involves them in the protection of water quality, and gives them the tools to achieve our shared vision of fishable, swimmable, and drinkable water. By providing technical and legal assistance, mapping tools, and access to available information; 3RWK recruits and educates a new generation of river stewards.
The types of programs that are community-focused include:
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through advocacy.3RWK’s model focuses on scientific and legal advocacy with the aim of holding polluters accountable to the law, particularly through the Clean Water Act. 3RWK does this through regular review of water permits, collecting water quality data, and engaging in regulatory proceedings and permit applications. Combining scientific rigor with legal expertise, 3RWK serves as an enforcer of the nation’s clean water laws where state and federal agencies have failed.
The types of programs that are advocacy-focused include:
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Other Ways to Donate & Support:
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