Nominations being sought for Pa. River of the Year
Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations are invited to nominate waterways for the 2014 Pennsylvania River of the Year.
The nomination period is open through Nov. 14, and then selected nominations will be voted on by the public beginning in late November.
Pennsylvania’s current River of the Year is the Monongahela River.
“It’s great that people are so connected to their rivers — for their beauty, the recreational opportunities they provide, and their importance to our communities.” said Ellen Ferretti, acting secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
“We are asking for nominations and for the fourth year in a row will allow citizens to vote and choose their River of the Year,” she added.
For more information about the River of the Year program or to nominate a river, visit online www.pariveroftheyear.org. Nominations must be made by 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14.
All Pennsylvania Rivers are eligible for nomination, with the exception of winning rivers since 2009.
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) administers the River of the Year program. 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.
“The River of the Year program and voting by the general public gives local nonprofit groups the opportunity to engage a broader audience in the appreciation of our rivers and streams,” said Paul King, president and chief of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, an affiliate of POWR.
“We look forward to once again highlighting the achievements of these local organizations who tirelessly work to protect and promote Pennsylvania rivers.”
After a waterway is chosen, local groups implement a year-round slate of activities and events to celebrate the river, including a paddling trip, or sojourn. The nominating organization of the winning river will receive a $10,000 leadership grant to help fund their River of the Year activities.
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. Applications for sojourn funding support will be accepted beginning in January.
To learn more about the River of the Year program, visit online at www.pariveroftheyear.org.