Author: Angela Vitkoski

2026 “River of the Year” Nominations – Nominations Accepted from October 13, 2025 through November 21, 2025

Dallas – Pennsylvania organizations are invited to nominate waterways for the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year. The nomination period is open through November 21, 2025, until 5pm. Selected nominations will be voted on by the public beginning in late November. “POWR is thrilled to announce the opening of the nomination period for the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year! This highly anticipated program shines a spotlight on the Commonwealth’s treasured waterways,” said POWR representative Janet Sweeney. “We look forward

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October 6, 2025 No Comments

POWR Announces 2025 Pennsylvania Sojourn Grant Awards

News for Immediate Release April 8, 2025 POWR announces 2025 Pennsylvania Sojourn Grant Awards Dallas – The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Pennsylvania River Sojourn Grants. The Pennsylvania Sojourn Program is administered by POWR in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through funding from the Environmental Stewardship Fund administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. These grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The

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April 14, 2025 No Comments

Delaware River Named Pennsylvania’s 2025 River of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 13, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: Wesley Robinson, werobinson@pa.gov, 717-877-6315Harrisburg, PA  The Delaware River has been named Pennsylvania’s 2025 River of the Year after securing the most votes in a public competition, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Organization for Waterways and Rivers (POWR) announced today. “The Delaware River is a conservation success story, and this designation is a testament to its historical, cultural, and recreational significance,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “From providing drinking water to millions to fueling

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February 13, 2025 No Comments

POWR Announces 2025 Pennsylvania Sojourn Grants Now Available

The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) has announced the opening of the 2025 Pennsylvania River Sojourns Grant cycle. Grants are available on a competitive basis for single and multi-day paddling events on Pennsylvania’s waterways. Sojourns must incorporate significant educational programming, and be open to all participants (i.e., private trips are not eligible). Applicants can request up to $1,000 per on water day. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations with tax-exempt status 501(c)(3), municipalities, counties and educational institutions. Mini Grants

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January 31, 2025 No Comments

2025 “River of the Year” Nominations Open

Nominations Accepted from October 7, 2024 through November 11, 2024 Dallas – Pennsylvania organizations are invited to nominate waterways for the 2024 Pennsylvania River of the Year. The nomination period is open through November 11, 2024, until 5 p.m. Selected nominations will be voted on by the public beginning in late November. “Each year, the River of the Year competition highlights one of Pennsylvania’s special waterways, and I’m excited to announce that we are again partnering with the Pennsylvania Organization

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October 11, 2024 No Comments

POWR announces 2024 Pennsylvania Sojourn Grant Awards

The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Pennsylvania River Sojourn Grants. These grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The Pennsylvania Sojourn Program is administered by POWR in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The PA Sojourn Program is nationally unique, distributing grants across the state to local organizations and their sojourn events. These grants support between 10 and 15 paddling events each year, encompassing over

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May 28, 2024 No Comments

Statewide Waterway Access Grant Application Open

Dallas – As paddlers take to Pennsylvania waterways in ever-increasing numbers, anew mini grant program provides funding to make the Commonwealth’s rivers andstreams more accessible. The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) announces theopening of the new Statewide Waterway Access Grant Mini Grant Program(SWAG). The grant program, supported by the Pennsylvania Fish and BoatCommission (PFBC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and NaturalResources, is designed to help meet growing demand for non-motorized boatingopportunities. The program provides grants of up

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January 1, 2024 No Comments

POWR announces 2023 Pennsylvania Sojourn Grants Now Available

            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2023 POWR announces 2023 Pennsylvania Sojourn Grants Now Available Luzerne – The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) has announced the opening of the 2023 Pennsylvania River Sojourns Grant cycle.    Grants are available on a competitive basis for single and multi-day paddling events on Pennsylvania Rivers. Sojourns must incorporate significant educational programming, and be open to all participants (i.e., private trips are not eligible). Applicants can request up

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February 1, 2023 No Comments

Susquehanna River North Branch Named 2023 PA River of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2023 Susquehanna River North Branch Named 2023 River of the Year Harrisburg, PA – The North Branch of the Susquehanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania has been selected by a public vote as the state’s 2023 River of the Year, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Janet Sweeney of the Pennsylvania Organization for Waterways and Rivers (POWR) announced today. “Through planned River of the Year celebrations, public awareness of the

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January 25, 2023 No Comments

French Creek Named 2022 River of the Year Following Public Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2022 French Creek Named 2022 River of the Year Following Public Vote Harrisburg, PA – Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Janet Sweeney of the Pennsylvania Organization for Waterways and Rivers (POWR) today jointly announced that French Creek in northwestern Pennsylvania had been selected as the state’s 2022 River of the Year. “The River of the Year highlights Pennsylvania’s amazing waterways annually and we are excited to recognize French

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January 31, 2022 No Comments

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