DCNR Accepting Nominations for 2025 River of the Year – Technologist

Press release shared by the Pennsylvania Pressroom on behalf of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on October 17, 2024.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that Pennsylvanians are being asked to nominate their favorite waterway for the 2025 River of the Year (ROY).

“Each year, the River of the Year competition highlights one of Pennsylvania’s special waterways, and I’m excited to announce that we are again partnering with the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers to accept nominations for the 2025 competition,” said Secretary Dunn. “Our beautiful rivers and streams support Pennsylvania’s $17 billion-dollar outdoor recreation industry, provide habitat for wildlife, and anchor communities. I look forward to this year’s competition and can’t wait to see what the public selects as the 2025 Pennsylvania River of the Year.”

The nomination period is open through Monday, November 11, at 5:00 PM. Selected nominations will be voted on by the public beginning in late November. For more information about the River of the Year program, visit the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers’ (POWR) website. To nominate a river or waterway, visit the Grants and Awards webpage and scroll down to “Apply.”

All Pennsylvania waterways are eligible for nomination, except for the past five years ROY winners below:

2024 – Allegheny River
2023 – Susquehanna North Branch
2022 – French Creek
2021 – Shenango River
2020 – Lackawanna River

POWR administers the River of the Year program with funding from DCNR. Pennsylvania’s River of the Year is an honor designed to elevate public awareness of specific rivers and recognize important conservation needs and achievements. River of the Year designations have been presented annually since 1983.

“POWR is thrilled to announce the opening of the nomination period for the 2025 Pennsylvania River of the Year! This highly anticipated program shines a spotlight on the Commonwealth’s treasured waterways,” said POWR representative Janet Sweeney. “We look forward to another opportunity for Pennsylvanians to support their favorite rivers in a friendly competition across the state.”

Once a river is selected, the local host will organize a year-long series of events and activities to celebrate the river, including the popular River of the Year Sojourn. The nominating organization of the winning river will receive a $10,000 leadership grant to help fund these River of the Year activities.

Visit DCNR’s website for more information about the agency and check out DCNR’s Calendar of Events for events on public lands.​

Media Contact: Wesley Robinson, [email protected]