Bob Frye photo
The Allegheny River has a lot of unique features for paddlers, including the smallest federally-designated wilderness area in the country.
It’s official, Pennsylvania has a river of the year for 2017, and it’s the Allegheny.
Billed as being “among the most biologically diverse watersheds in Pennsylvania,” as well as a federally-designated National Wild and Scenic Recreation river, it was chosen river of the year in online voting.
There were three other rivers in contention for the title, all of them, interestingly enough, really creeks: the Loyalhanna, Brandywine and Perkiomen.
The win will largely serve to bring attention to the river.
The group that nominated the Allegheny, the Penn Soil Resource and Development Council, gets $10,000 to sponsor a number of river-related activities. Those typically include a sojourn, among other things.
Helping to organize the events will be the the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, which jointly sponsor the contest.
“Through planned “River of the Year” celebrations, public awareness of the river’s value will be increased and major initiatives along this section of the river will be underscored,” said Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Conservation and Natural Resources Department.
“Economic revitalization of river-town communities will enhance access to the river; increase tourism; and provide additional land and water-based recreational opportunities for local residents and visitors alike.”
She called the Allegheny “one of western Pennsylvania’s natural treasures.”
Wes Ramsey, executive director of Penn Soil Resource and Development Council, agreed and said that while just being nominated was good for the Allegheny, actually winning the title will bring benefits.
“Every year, thousands of people paddle down this beautiful river,” Ramsey said, “and winning this designation helps us focus more attention on its history; the value of clean water; its biological diversity; the recreational opportunities it provides; and the economic value of the Allegheny River to our region.”
The river flows more than 315 miles through the state and is home to an increasing bald eagle population, good fishing for smallmouth bass, trout, muskies and other species, and passes through state and federal lands, including Allegheny National Forest.
Bob Frye photo
The Allegheny is great for fishing, paddling, hunting and just plain exploring.
