As of midweek, the Allegheny River was ahead by about 5 percent in the public online contest, which ends Monday at 5 p.m.
Exact voting totals were not available as of Friday.
Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development Council nominated the river. Other finalists include Brandywine Creek and Perkiomen Creek, in southeastern Pennsylvania, and Loyalhanna Creek, in the southwestern part of the state.
The organization that nominated the winning entry in the contest will receive a $10,000 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant in order to host a series of public educational and recreational events, said Wes Ramsey, executive director of Penn Soil RC&D.
“Our plans would be for Penn Soil to sponsor at least five public events on the river involving families and educating them on water quality and the importance of the river to our region. We would probably sponsor some river cleanup and canoe and kayak events,” Ramsey said.
The council also would hold an overnight educational paddling sojourn, which would cover 20 to 25 miles, and attendees could camp along the river or stay in a nearby hotel, Ramsey said.
The Allegheny River was nominated due to its impact on the local area, according to Ramsey.
“I know that there are thousands of people who love the Allegheny River for its recreation and paddling adventures. A lot of them are focused on the beauty and recreation value it provides. It’s scenic and beautiful and teeming with a lot of life,” he said.
At more than 315 miles long, the river contributes to 60 percent of the Ohio River flow to Pittsburgh and has a watershed area of 11,580 square miles.
The river system is the location of the most diverse and populous freshwater mussel habitat in the world and is one of the most biologically diverse watersheds in the state.
Eighty-six miles of the river from Kinzua Dam to Emlenton are a federally designated National Wild and Scenic Recreation River and contain seven islands that are protected under America’s National Wilderness Preservation System.
If the Allegheny were to win this year, it would be the second time since 1994.
“We certainly think the river is a big part of our region, not only for the recreation it provides but as an important source of drinking water for communities, for both household and business use,” Ramsey said. “It’s a huge part of our environment and economy.”
A winner will be announced by the Pennsylvania DCNR in early January.
The contest is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania DCNR and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.
Anyone with a valid email address can vote for 2017 River of the Year at http://www.pariveroftheyear.org.
Penn Soil RC&D is a 501-c-3 charitable organization headquartered in Warren and serves residents in Venango, Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Mercer, Lawrence, Erie and Warren counties.
The council provides technical and/or financial assistance to community groups that want to complete improvement projects but might not have sufficient legal structure to conduct business or enter into contracts to procure necessary resources, services and workers to do so.
