What Pittsburgh-Area River Was Just Named the 2024 River of the Year?

[FakeNoose]

Pittsburgh Magazine link: https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/what-pittsburgh-area-river-was-just-named-the-2024-river-of-the-year/

Originating as a stream in Potter County in North-Central Pennsylvania, it journeys 325 miles through a small part of New York and then across six counties in Western Pennsylvania before joining the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh at the Ohio River. It provides drinking water to more than 1 million people and serves as a habitat for hundreds of animal species, including the threatened Salamander mussel.

That’s the Allegheny River, which has been named Pennsylvania’s 2024 River of the Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources and Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds & Rivers. Held annually since 1983, the contest raises awareness about the Pennsylvania environment and local conservation efforts.

Janet Sweeney, vice president of the watershed organization, said in a release that the “program continues to engage our communities by providing a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the nominated rivers and the great work being done in Pennsylvania on these resources.”

Organizations nominate rivers for the award, with five being selected for a public vote. The winning river’s nominating organization receives a $10,000 grant from the DCNR and watershed group to fund events throughout the year, including a sojourn commemorating the River of the Year award.

- More at Link (Short Article) -

[bucolic_frolic]

1. The economy of the 1700s dictated building cities near rivers to move goods

Now we don't use rivers very much for goods but we have to build bridges all over the place. See how things can change on you?

[Charging Triceratops]

2. The beautiful river of my youth

Back when the mud was blue and factories dumped in whatever they could, we all swam in the Allegheny. Now that it's so much cleaner, nobody swims in it! ... Well, except snapping turtles the size of a kitchen table. And baseballs that fly out of PNC Park.

[montanacowboy]

3. Ha Ha so true

I happened to get the benefit of both rivers as they joined the Ohio River which was an open sewer when I was a kid. We played and fished in it and thought nothing of it. This is good news.

[FakeNoose]

4. I used to swim in the Yough, down around Ohiopyle

I don't think I've ever swum in the Allegheny though. Friends of mine have a boat on the Allegheny, and they say it's safe to eat the fish now. They go out in their boat all summer, mostly up river.