HARRISBURG — The Conestoga River in southeastern Pennsylvania has been selected by a public vote as the state’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 announced Thursday.

“Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year is the Conestoga River, and we are excited to spend the year celebrating the beauty and majesty of this wonderful waterway,” Dunn said. “This once-polluted river is an example of what can happen when we prioritize clean, healthy waterways. Its transformation has made the Conestoga a hub for outdoor recreation, providing a boost to the region and demonstrating that rivers build thriving communities.”

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