The Conestoga River Club, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers celebrated the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s River of the Year for 2026 with an event at Lancaster County Park on Wednesday.
The 2026 contest marked the second time the Conestoga River has been on the ballot and the first time the river has won the annual competition. The results were announced this January, but the award was presented to the Conestoga River Club today on behalf of Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Malinda Clatterbuck, executive director of The Conestoga River Club, attributed the success of this year’s campaign to partnerships in the community. Since the Pennsylvania River of the Year award is based on a competition, Clatterbuck said marketing and making people aware of how to vote was really helpful in securing Conestoga’s recognition.
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Janet Sweeney, board member, Pennsylvania Organization of Watersheds and River, and vice president, Pennsylvania Environmental council, left, and Wesley Robinson, press secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, hold the newly unveiled 2026 River of the Year poster during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck, executive director, Conestoga River Club, welcomes officials and guests to a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Fritz Schroeder, CEO, Lancaster Conservancy, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Fritz Schroeder, CEO, Lancaster Conservancy, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey, United States EPA, Mid-Atlantic regional administrator, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Tom Gilbert, president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Tom Gilbert, president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Todd Roy, founder of Conestoga River Club, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Sec. Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Sec. Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
From left: Tom Gilbert, president, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Mid-Atlantic regional administrator, Sec. Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources, Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck, executive director, Conestoga River Club, Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo and Fritz Schroeder, CEO, Lancaster Conservancy, pose with the newly unveiled 2026 River of the Year poster during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Janet Sweeney, board member, Pennsylvania Organization of Watersheds and River, and vice president, Pennsylvania Environmental council, left, and Wesley Robinson, press secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, hold the newly unveiled 2026 River of the Year poster during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck, executive director, Conestoga River Club, welcomes officials and guests to a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Fritz Schroeder, CEO, Lancaster Conservancy, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Fritz Schroeder, CEO, Lancaster Conservancy, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey, United States EPA, Mid-Atlantic regional administrator, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Tom Gilbert, president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Tom Gilbert, president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Todd Roy, founder of Conestoga River Club, speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Sec. Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
Sec. Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
From left: Tom Gilbert, president, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Mid-Atlantic regional administrator, Sec. Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources, Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck, executive director, Conestoga River Club, Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo and Fritz Schroeder, CEO, Lancaster Conservancy, pose with the newly unveiled 2026 River of the Year poster during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn mentioned in her remarks that she voted for the Conestoga herself, although not in her official capacity.
“I’ve got two email addresses, right,” Dunn quipped.
During her remarks, Dunn also presented Clatterbuck with an official recognition of the Conestoga River on behalf of Gov. Josh Shapiro, and together, Dunn and Clatterbuck unveiled a poster recognizing the Conestoga River’s win.
These limited-edition posters will be available for free at the Conestoga River Club’s events. Only 1,000 copies were printed.
The award is complemented by a $10,000 grant to celebrate the waterway, according to DCNR’s website.
Sec. Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources, speaks during a news conference about Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
BLAINE SHAHAN | Staff Photographer
Clatterbuck expects that money to fund initiatives that raise community awareness of the river and environmental preservation.
The Conestoga River Club will promote an art series, with writing and painting by the river, and a photography contest, but Clatterbuck also wants to get more involved with youth, teaching kids in Lancaster County schools more about the river.
Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo speaks during a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
BLAINE SHAHAN | Staff Photographer
The organization will host its first Conestoga River Day Sept. 18, as well. The event is estimated to be three hours of activities as a way to encourage people to get out on the water.
The initiatives are intended to educate people more about the Conestoga River and help them appreciate it, with the hopes of influencing them to preserve it. The Conestoga River Club hosts clean-up events that Clatterbuck hopes more people may choose to attend.
Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck, executive director, Conestoga River Club, welcomes officials and guests to a news conference about the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year inside Pavilion 2 at Lancaster County Central Park on Wednesday June 10, 2026.
BLAINE SHAHAN | Staff Photographer
“Health and welfare just depend on this river,” Clatterbuck said. “And the river depends on what we, in the city, do.”
She said the outpouring of community support in helping the Conestoga River to win this year’s award has been overwhelming and tiresome, although in a good way, and she hopes to see people continue to take care of natural resources.
Clatterbuck said being handed the award today felt awkward because the river’s recognition wasn’t about her, and it felt like the community should have been receiving the certificate. She said the award wasn’t about her or a certain organization.
“It’s just about the water and trying to keep it clean,” Clatterbuck said.
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