PA Opens Voting for 2026 River of the Year With 3 Finalists

You’re invited to cast your vote for Pennsylvania’s River of the Year for 2026.

Three waterways — the lower portion of the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia, the Chillisquaque Creek in central Pennsylvania, and the Conestoga River in Lancaster County — have all been named finalists. 

The winning river’s nominating group will receive a $15,000 grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to fund year‑long celebrations.

Organized by the POWR, the program is supported by DCNR funding to celebrate waterways and raise conservation awareness.

According to The Keystone, in 2025, the Delaware River received the award. Organized by the POWR, the award is supported by funding from the DCNR to celebrate waterways and raise conservation awareness.

Learn About the RiversThe Conestoga River flows about 60 miles from Berks County through Lancaster County to Safe Harbor on the Susquehanna River. Lancaster Clean Water Partners nominated this river for consideration.Chillisquaque Creek is a 20‑mile tributary with a 112‑square‑mile watershed spanning Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, and Lycoming counties. The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association nominated this river for voting.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. Significant efforts by the LandHealth Institute have focused on cleaning up the river.