Pennsylvanians can now cast their vote online for the 2026 River of the Year.
Through Jan. 16, you can choose from three waterways in the annual contest: the Chillisquaque Creek in central Pennsylvania, the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, and the lower portion of the Schuylkill River in the greater Philadelphia region.
The River of the Year program is run by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, a nonprofit, with funding from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The competition aims to celebrate the state’s waterways and raise awareness around conservation needs in the commonwealth.
“Each of these worthy waterways makes a unique case to be the top river for 2026 and I am excited to see which one wins,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a press release. “I enjoy this annual competition for the community pride it builds and focus it provides for the recreational, cultural, and economic importance of our rivers. Vote now and make your voice heard.”
The winning river’s nominating group will receive a $15,000 DCNR grant to fund year-long celebrations.
This year’s nominees flow through urban, rural and suburban areas of the state and offer opportunities for a wide range of outdoor activities, from canoeing and kayaking to tubing and fishing. The POWR on its website also notes the environmental challenges that each of the scenic waterways face.
The Conestoga River, nominated by the Lancaster Clean Water Partners, flows for about 60 miles, starting in Berks County and mostly traveling through Lancaster County. It passes close to the center of the city of Lancaster and ends at Safe Harbor along the Susquehanna River, about 16 miles north of the Mason-Dixon line.
“Most importantly, the Conestoga River is a powerful testament to resilience and hope,” the POWR writes. “It proves that a waterway surrounded by heavy urban, suburban, and agricultural development can, with collective will, be successfully brought back to health.”
“Celebrate Lancaster’s heritage and fuel the collective action needed to finally make this waterway clean and clear for all!” the POWR continues.
The Chillisquaque Creek, nominated by the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, is a 20-mile tributary of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Its 112-square-mile watershed spans Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, and Lycoming counties.
“The watershed was protected for decades by a small watershed association that pulled more than 6,000 tires and hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash from its banks, but that group (like many) struggled to find young volunteers and in 2024 was forced to disband,” the POWR writes. “Winning River of the Year would funnel in necessary resources and awareness to help rebuild the legacy of that group and resurrect a new sustainable option to improve and protect the watershed.”
The lower portion of the Schuylkill River in the greater Philadelphia region runs for 36 miles, starting in Phoenixville in Chester County and ending at the river’s mouth near the Schuylkill Navy Yard in Philadelphia.
“Over the years the river has been cleaned up and access has improved by organizations such as LandHealth Institute, but we are nowhere near where we need to be,” the POWR writes. This river is not yet accessible to everyone in the city, and pollution issues still plague the river every year.”
To learn more about each of the waterways, you can visit the POWR’s website.
In 2025, Pennsylvanians voted for the Delaware River as the 2025 River of the Year. As part of that designation, the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers held a range of activities to celebrate the riverway throughout the year.
Voting will run through 5pm on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. You can cast your vote online through the POWR website.