A public vote has chosen the Conestoga River in southeastern Pennsylvania as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) Vice President Janet Sweeney made the announcement about the river’s selection on Thursday, Jan. 29.
The public was asked to vote online for the River of the Year, with a total of 5,604 votes received. According to a DCNR news release, the Conestoga River received 2,510 votes. The Lower Schuylkill River earned 2,312 votes, and the Chillisquaque Creek 782 votes.
The Conestoga River Club, which nominated the Conestoga River for the recognition, will receive a $15,000 leadership grant to fund a series of year-long 2026 River of the Year activities. DCNR and POWR will assist the club in creating a free, commemorative poster honoring the Conestoga River as the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year.
“This once-polluted river is an example of what can happen when we prioritize clean, healthy waterways,” Dunn said. “Its transformation has made the Conestoga a hub for outdoor recreation, providing a boost to the region and demonstrating that rivers build thriving communities.”
About the Conestoga River
The Conestoga extends for more than 61 miles, from its headwaters in Berks County to the Susquehanna River below the Safe Harbor Dam. The Conestoga winds its way past historic covered bridges, working farms, and small towns, and it is one of Lancaster County’s most recognizable waterways. Locals and visitors to the area enjoy canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing on the river.
The Conestoga River Watershed covers hundreds of square miles and serves diverse agricultural lands, small communities, and growing suburbs.