Outdoors: Allegheny named River of the Year
The Allegheny River in western Pennsylvania has been designated the 2017 Pennsylvania River of the Year.
Chosen by public online vote, the Allegheny topped three other waterways: the Brandywine, Loyalhanna and Perkiomen creeks. The vote was conducted last year by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Organization of Waterways and Rivers (POWR).
MORE: Upcoming events bring outdoors to life (column)
MORE: Catching a glimpse of a battle on the river (column)
MORE: Some fishing hot spots are close to home
POWR administers the River of the Year program with funding from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Presented annually since 1983, the 2016 River of the Year designation was awarded to the Susquehanna River North Branch in northeast Pennsylvania
The Allegheny River is one of six federally-designated and 13 state-designated scenic rivers in the state. Flowing more than 315 miles, the river begins as a small stream north and east of Coudersport in Potter County and flows west and south ending at Pittsburgh where it joins the Monongahela and forms the Ohio River.
The cold waters of the upper portion of the river is well-known to Pennsylvania anglers who pursue stocked and wild trout. An increasing population of bald eagles are designating the river as their home.
Passing through Potter and a portion of McKean counties, the river turns north into New York, eventually flowing turning south and flowing into the reservoir backed up by the Kinzua Dam, a flood-control structure at Warren.
Leaving the Kinzua Dam, the next 87 miles of the river, has received the federal designation as a Wild and Scenic river. This “middle section” flows past the Allegheny Island Wilderness which includes seven islands with a total of 368 acres.
The Allegheny becomes navigable for commercial vessels in its last 72 miles thanks to a series of eight dams and locks.
A brochure issued by DCNA and POWR claims “Allegheny” is a name believed to have been adopted “from a Lenape Indian word ‘welhik hane’ meaning ‘beautiful stream.’ Before that Iroquois and Shawnee Indians referred to it as the ‘O Hi Yo.’
During the 1700s the river as named ‘La Belle Riviere’ by French explorers.
MORE: Trout stocking schedule set for York, Adams
MORE: Codorus Creek project receives funding
MORE: Crabbing season is here (column)
Other waterways which have carried the designation are: Delaware, Stoneycreek, Monongahela, Schuylkill, and Conewango Creek.
The designation helps raise public awareness of the stewardship needs of each particular river, highlighting its natural, cultural and economic values, according to the DCNR.
In making the Allegheny’s announcement, Cindy Adams Dunn, DCNR secretary, said: “Pennsylvania is blessed with several large, iconic rivers and the Allegheny’s attributes are many, diverse and known so well to the thousands who fish and paddle its rebounding waters and hike, bike and camp along its banks. So rich in scenic beauty and historical significance, the Allegheny River is deservedly one of western Pennsylvania’s natural treasures.
“The Allegheny and the other three waterways nominated for 2017 all highlight our state’s wealth of rivers and streams, and its core of dedicated folks who fight to protect them.”
MORE: Md., N.J. beaches host ancient event
DCNR and POWR will work with the Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development Council to create a free, commemorative poster celebrating the Allegheny River (Middle and Upper) as the 2017 PA River of the Year. The applicant, Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development Council, will receive a $10,000 Leadership Grant to help fund River of the Year activities throughout the year.
The DCNR states: “Scenic river designation is intended to preserve the natural and aesthetic values of a waterway to protect the quality and character of the waterway and surrounding environment. This protection is largely carried out through a partnership between DCNR and other state agencies, whereby construction projects in the vicinity of a designated scenic river are required to undergo a more rigorous permitting process and may be required to adjust the project design and/or construction practices to ensure that the natural and aesthetic values of the waterway are maintained during and after construction.”
Bob Marchio is outdoor writer for The (Hanover) Evening Sun. He may be reached at bmarchio@embarqmail.com.