Voting Begins for Pennsylvania's 2016 River of the Year

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The public is invited to again vote online for the 2016 Pennsylvania River of the Year, choosing from among five waterways nominated across the state, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced today.

Rivers nominated for 2016 are the Kiski-Conemaugh, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Ohio and Susquehanna - North Branch.

"In all of these nominated waterways there are showcased so many unique natural resources, recreational opportunities and incentives boosting local economies," said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. "They demonstrate just how blessed Pennsylvanians are with a wealth of major rivers and streams and how so many are willing to support them."

Nominations were based on each waterway's conservation needs and successes, as well as celebration plans should the nominee be voted 2016 River of the Year. In cooperation with DCNR, selection of public voting choices is overseen by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

"The online public selection process continues to be increasingly popular as it enters its sixth year," Dunn said. "This spirit of good-natured competition rallies community support around our deserving waterways and puts them in the public limelight across our state."

The public can vote for their favorite state waterway beginning today through 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14.  The website www.pariveroftheyear.org enables voting and offers details on nominated waterways and the River of the Year program. Voting will be managed through Woobox, an online contest application that restricts voting to one vote per email address.

POWR, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, administers the River of the Year program with funding from DCNR. Presented annually since 1983, this year's 2015 designation was awarded to the Conewango Creek in northwest Pennsylvania.

"This is a wonderful and unique opportunity for residents across the Commonwealth to show support for their local river by taking part in the voting process for the 2016 River of the Year," said Janet Sweeney, Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

"Being Pa. River of the Year and engaging in River of the Year activities gave the Conewango Creek Watershed monumental exposure to a wide audience from multiple states, and helped put our watershed in rural northwest Pennsylvania on the 'must-do' list for future recreationalists, environmentalists and travelers," said Ron Keeney, of pathe Conewango Creek Watershed Association's board of directors. "And Warren being the host city for the PA Trails Conference made our name even more recognizable."

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.

POWR 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 just one of many paddling trips supported by DCNR and POWR each year.  An independent program, the Pennsylvania Sojourn Program, is a unique series of a dozen such trips on the state's rivers. These water-based journeys for canoeists, kayakers and others raise awareness of the environmental, recreational, tourism and heritage values of rivers. For more information about the sojourns, visit www.pawatersheds.org.

To learn more about DCNR's Rivers Program, visit www.dcnr.pa.gov (click on "Conserve," then "Waterways").

To learn more about the River of the Year program, visit www.pariveroftheyear.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Terry Brady, DCNR, 717-772-9101
Janet Sweeney, POWR, 570-718-6507

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Related Links

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us