French Creek, a northwestern Pennsylvania waterway rich with a diversity of aquatic life, has been voted the state’s 2022 River of the Year.
In public voting, French Creek received 6,604 votes for the honor, followed by the Monongahela River, 3,311; Catawissa Creek, 3,188; and Connoquenessing Creek, 869, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. A total of 13,972 votes were cast.
Meandering 117 miles from its headwaters in southern New York through 4 Pennsylvania counties to its mouth on the Allegheny River, French Creek is one of the most biologically diverse waterways of its size in the U.S.
It is home to 27 species of freshwater mussels, more than 80 species of fish, numerous waterfowl and songbird species, including bald eagles, and 4 Audubon-designated Important Bird Areas. It is also home to the eastern hellbender, the largest species of salamander in North America and the official amphibian of Pennsylvania.
The French Creek Valley Conservancy will receive a $10,000 Leadership Grant to help fund a slate of River of the Year activities throughout 2022. DCNR and the Pennsylvania Organization for Waterways and Rivers will work with FCVC to create a free, commemorative poster celebrating French Creek as the 2022 Pennsylvania River of the Year.
A commemorative River of the Year sojourn is among many paddling trips supported by DCNR and POWR each year. An independent program, the Pennsylvania Sojourn Program, is a unique series of a dozen such trips on the state’s rivers. These water-based journeys for canoeists, kayakers and others raise awareness of the environmental, recreational, tourism and heritage values of rivers.
“The River of the Year highlights Pennsylvania’s amazing waterways annually and we are excited to recognize French Creek as the 2022 winner,” said Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of DCNR. “Our waterways are a great way to connect to nature for recreation and relaxation. They also provide a great opportunity to learn about the regions through which they flow. I am hopeful that more people will consider experiencing French Creek and its beauty as a result of this prestigious honor.”
POWR’s Janet Sweeney added, “The River of the Year program is a great way to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing our waterways, raise awareness and connect Pennsylvanians to the water, as well as highlight the great work being done in Pennsylvania communities on these valuable resources.”
French Creek Valley Conservancy Executive Director Brenda Costa said, “French Creek has incredible biodiversity, flowing through beautiful natural landscapes, and it provides many wonderful recreational opportunities. It is a common thread that joins so many small communities in northwest Pennsylvania with a sense of pride and passion, and we are grateful to the thousands of people who voted for French Creek.
“People often share stories with me about their experiences and family memories surrounding French Creek, and I look forward to having more people discover our community treasure.”
FCVC is an accredited land trust dedicated to protecting the French Creek Watershed. It protects more than 3,000 acres of land throughout the watershed, helping to conserve French Creek, its tributaries and riparian areas, and providing recreational access.
It manages French Creek as an official Pennsylvania Water Trail and will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2022.
Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.
Ad Choices