Clarion River National Wild & Scenic Rivers Stamp To Be Released May 21

The U.S. Postal Service will release its National Wild and Scenic River stamp series on May 21 that includes Pennsylvania’s 2019 River Of The Year-- the Clarion River.

The Clarion River stamp features a glowing image captured by U.S. Bureau of Land Management photographer Bob Wick.

The Clarion River was nominated for the PA River of the Year by the Allegheny Watershed Improvement Needs Coalition and they won the honor in January of this year as a result of public voting.

The headwaters of the Clarion River is formed near Johnsonburg in Elk County and flows generally Southwest and joins the Allegheny River south of Emlenton in Clarion County.

Aquatic communities along the Clarion River were historically impacted and degraded from watershed stressors, such as mining and logging, but the river presently supports healthy aquatic communities thanks to many restoration, enhancement, and protection efforts over the years.

The Clarion River is a thriving cold water fishery from its headwaters to its confluence with Mill Creek in Strattanville, where it transitions to a warm water fishery until its confluence with the Allegheny River.

The Clarion River has National Wild and Scenic River designation, which protects and enhances its free-flowing state to promote recreational and scenic values.

The river is continuing to recover thanks in part to the concerted conservation efforts of many agencies and organizations along its corridor.

Click Here to pre-order the Wild and Scenic Rivers stamp series.

Resources

Click Here to find out about the recreational resources along the Clarion River and more about the Clarion River Water Trail.

Scenic Rivers

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Pennsylvania has approximately 83,260 miles of river, of which 409.3 miles are designated under the act, including: Allegheny River; Clarion River; Delaware River (Lower); Delaware River (Middle); Delaware River (Upper); and White Clay Creek.

The protection efforts are largely carried out through a partnership between DCNR and other state agencies.

To learn more about conservation efforts visit DCNR’s Rivers Conservation webpage.

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