Voting is open online for the 2024 Pennsylvania River of the Year, with the National Wild & Scenic Allegheny River in the Pennsylvania Wilds being one of the three waterways nominated throughout the state.
Although the Allegheny River was the 2017 River of the Year, it’s in the running again… proving its worth as a place to paddle, fish, photograph and enjoy.
Image: Kayaks on the Allegheny River, provided by Allegheny Outfitters in Warren
The historic Allegheny River starts as a stream in Potter County, meandering through a field of wildflowers before crossing briefly through New York and then through six counties in Western Pennsylvania. The 325-mile river ends in Pittsburgh where it meets the Monongahela River and flows into the Ohio River, providing drinking water to more than one million people and acting as an ecologically and economically precious water trail.
With specifically 86.6 miles of recreational use in the PA Wilds region, the National Wild & Scenic Allegheny River flows through forest valleys, wilderness islands and rural landscapes. Hugging the edge of the Allegheny National Forest, most river paddlers start out by the Kinzua Dam. Your adventure on the Allegheny River takes you along one of the most biologically diverse watersheds in Pennsylvania, rich in scenic beauty and historical significance.
The Allegheny River is also unique for the Allegheny Islands Wilderness. At just 372 acres, it’s one of the country’s smallest wilderness areas. Although it’s a small area in the river, it’s fascinating and ecologically interesting. The wilderness, established in 1984, is located on seven islands scattered along a 56-mile stretch of the Allegheny River, between the Buckaloons Recreation Area and the town of Tionesta.
Image: Crull’s Island, the largest island in the Allegheny Islands Wilderness
The three nominees for the 2024 River of the Year are the Allegheny River, Lackawaxen River, and Youghiogheny River.
Nominations were based on each waterway’s conservation needs, successes, and programming plans if the nominee is voted 2024 River of the Year.
Selection of public voting choices is overseen by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). This is the fourteenth year of the award.
The public can vote for a favorite state waterway through 5:00 P.M. Friday, January 19, 2024.
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers website enables voting and offers details on nominated waterways and the River of the Year program. Voting is managed through Woobox, an online contest application restricting voting to one email address.
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), administers the River of the Year program with funding from DCNR.
“I am excited for this year’s competition and look forward to seeing which river comes out on top,” Pennsylvania DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “This annual competition is a great way to highlight Pennsylvania’s special waterways and the benefits they bring for conservation, recreation, economic development, and so much more. We look forward to tallying up votes and announcing the 2024 River of the Year in the coming months.”
Presented annually since 1983, last year’s 2023 River of the Year designation was awarded to the North Branch Susquehanna River.
“We are excited to once again kick off the public online voting process for Pennsylvania River of the Year,” said Janet Sweeney, executive director of the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers. “As we all continue to spend more time outdoors and deepen our appreciation for the beautiful natural resources of Pennsylvania, the annual River of the Year voting process is a fun way to rally behind and support your favorite waterway.”
After a waterway is chosen for the annual honor, local groups implement a year-round slate of activities and events to celebrate the river, including a paddling trip, or sojourn. The organization nominating the winning river will receive a $10,000 leadership grant from DCNR to help fund River of the Year activities.
Image: Allegheny Outfitters in Warren leads an Allegheny River clean-up each year. They have been holding this volunteer clean-up effort since 2005!
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and DCNR also work with local organizations to create a free, commemorative poster celebrating the River of the Year.
The River of the Year sojourn is among many paddling trips supported each year by DCNR and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers. An independent program, the Pennsylvania Sojourn Program, is a unique series of a dozen such trips on the state’s rivers. The water-based journeys for canoeists, kayakers and others raise awareness of the environmental, recreational, tourism and heritage values of rivers.
Image: Relaxing on the Allegeny River, photo provided by Allegheny Outfitters
For more information about the sojourns, visit the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers website.
To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Rivers Conservation Program, visit the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.
Vote for your choice for the 2024 Pennsylvania River of the Year by January 19.
Established on July 1, 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is charged with maintaining and protecting 121 state parks; managing 2.2 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state’s ecological and geologic resources; and establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space, and natural areas. DCNR’s mission is to conserve and sustain Pennsylvania’s natural resources for present and future generations’ use and enjoyment. Learn more at DCNR.pa.gov.
Author: Britt Madera
Britt joined the PA Wilds team as communications manager in 2022, helping to tell the stories that make our region so unique, whether that is covering our beautiful landscapes, the innovative businesses, or the spunky people that call it home. She had worked the last 10 years in radio and news broadcasting, and now she’s continuing to connect media outlets with positive news stories. Britt oversees external communications, media relations, and paid and volunteer content on the blog. As someone who grew up in Clearfield County and moved back shortly after college, Britt is eager to share her passion for the PA Wilds and help our area grow and shine.