The Allegheny River has been voted Pennsylvania River of the Year for the second time since 1994.
Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development Council nominated the Allegheny and in turn received a $10,000 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Leadership Grant to help fund educational and recreational activities along the river.
Other finalists included Brandywine Creek and Perkiomen Creek in southeastern Pennsylvania and Loyalhanna Creek in the southwestern part of the state.
“So rich in scenic beauty and historical significance, the Allegheny River is deservedly one of western Pennsylvania’s natural treasures,” said DCNR secretary Cindy Adams Dunn in a press release Monday.
Penn Soil RC&D will use the grant money to sponsor public events on the river involving families and educating them on the importance of water to the region.
Wes Ramsey, executive director of Penn Soil RC&D, said the council is looking at holding kayak, canoe and river cleanup events, along with an overnight educational paddling sojourn.
“Every year, thousands of people paddle down this beautiful river, and winning this designation helps us focus more attention on … the recreational opportunities it provides and the economic value of the Allegheny River to our region,” Ramsey said in the press release.
Ramsey said the month-long voting campaign was a strenuous but exciting process.
“We’re very grateful for all the support that we were able to generate for the Allegheny. It was a hectic campaign, a lot of people put time into it and we’re thankful for volunteers who put time in to push it to the top,” he said.
Project managers at the Oil Region Alliance said they are eager to lend a hand with the recreational activities.
“We’ll definitely be wanting to help and support (Penn Soil),” said John Phillips, the Alliance president and CEO. “With our involvement with all the outdoor entities in the region, I think it is a great honor and we’re going to look forward to a year of more exposure.”
Phillips said he hopes more residents and visitors will make use of the river this year due to the provided recreational activities.
“Now people will actually see what we’ve known all along. The Allegheny is a fantastic river and hopefully this will spur folks who may not have experienced it to come up once the river has been awarded,” said Phillips.
Ramsey said the council will meet next month to informally discuss plans for the grant money.
“We’ll have to roll up our sleeves and start making plans,” Ramsey said. “It was a community effort for a lot of folks and volunteers. It’s fantastic news and we’re looking forward to celebrating this year of the river.”