The event is a part of Lancaster Water Week, an annual celebration of the 1,400 miles of streams and rivers in Lancaster County, hosted by Lancaster Conservancy.
This week of events encourages people to enjoy, learn, volunteer, and take action to clean and protect the waterways throughout the county.
The Conestoga
The Conestoga flows for more than 61 miles, from its headwaters in Berks County down to the Susquehanna River below the Safe Harbor Dam.
Historically, the Conestoga River was highly polluted, and many tributaries are still considered impaired.
However, the river has become a source of increased recreation and enjoyment for local communities.
Farm conservation work in the Upper Conestoga River Watershed was also highlighted on June 9 as part of Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. Read more here.
The Conestoga River Club nominated the Conestoga which received 2,510 votes for river of the year, demonstrating a local source of pride and engagement.
The Conestoga River Club dedicated the River of the Year victory and celebration to those who will benefit from the future health of our watershed, and to the memory of Ad Crable, a revered local journalist who championed the careful stewardship of the Conestoga.
“The Conestoga River is a great example of what can happen when we prioritize clean, healthy waterways — making its selection as Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year a very well-deserved honor,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.
“The Conestoga River Club and its volunteers have done amazing work to steward this river, and the river has become a hub for outdoor recreation. Thank you to the staff and volunteers for the conservation work on the Conestoga, which has provided an economic boost to the region and helped demonstrate that rivers build thriving communities.”
“The River of the Year program continues to engage communities across Pennsylvania by highlighting the unique stories and value of our waterways,” said Tom Gilbert, President of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
“We are happy to celebrate the Conestoga River today for its rich history, its importance to local communities, and the ongoing efforts to restore and protect this vital resource for future generations.”
The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, a PEC-related organization, administers the River Of The Year Program.
“We are fortunate to have this year’s River of the Year event take place during the 10th annual Lancaster Water Week to help elevate the value water brings to the county,” said Conestoga River Club Executive Director Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck.
“Having the Conestoga River selected as the 2026 River of the year is an honor that celebrates a history woven into the fabric of life in Lancaster County.
“As a club, we are committed to stewarding the Conestoga and keeping it clean and clear for all.
“Deepest thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers for making this opportunity possible.”
“The Conestoga River is vital to the health of Lancaster City-- from providing drinking water to recreation opportunities, we are fortunate to have this indispensable resource in our backyard,” said Lancaster City Mayor Jaime Arroyo. “We thank the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers for highlighting the value of this important waterway.”
“The Conestoga River is vital to Pennsylvania communities—providing water for families, farms, and businesses and supporting recreation across the region,” said US EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey.
“Each improvement in the Conestoga watershed strengthens local streams, restores habitat, reduces sediment and flood impacts, and delivers benefits people can see close to home and downstream in the Chesapeake Bay.
“This progress is possible because of strong partnerships with the Commonwealth and local advocates like the Conestoga River Club.”
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Watershed Planner Brian Gish is a Lancaster native, and led a multi-year effort to develop a comprehensive plan to improve the headwaters of the Conestoga River.
Gish said-- “How Lancaster has rallied around the Conestoga River has been nothing short of inspiring. My entire life, I’ve encountered negative perceptions of this waterway, but recently
“I’ve seen attitudes pivot. In my conversations with the watershed’s farmers, residents, and leaders, indifference is transforming into passion and action.”
“Countless projects are undoing centuries of damage, driven by a community-- my community-- reconsidering its relationship with this river.
“The Conestoga’s future is our future, and we’re taking steps to secure both. I’m seeing our river heal. If we stay the course, it will be healthy in our lifetimes.”
Ashley Spotts, CBF’s Lancaster Restoration Biologist, has spent more than two decades working on projects along the Conestoga as well. She specializes in planting riparian buffers, groups of trees along waterways to filter out pollutants.
Spotts said-- “I’ve always had a passion for native plants, and I’ve worked 20 years with many farmers and landowners along the Conestoga River and its tributaries to plant trees in an effort to raise water quality.
“It feels so good to return to a planting years later and see a small forest, with fruiting persimmons and oaks branches weighted down with acorns.
“Not only will this provide resources for the plants and animals on land, but I know these trees mean healthier water as well.”
CBF, led by Spotts, is planning an event to be held in August that will bring together landowners, farmers, and partners to launch a watershed improvement plan developed by Gish for the Upper Conestoga watershed.
Developing quality plans in priority watershed areas, with support from partners and landowners, is central to CBF’s water improvement work throughout Pennsylvania.
As CBF celebrates forty years of protecting and restoring Pennsylvania’s environment, we want to celebrate all of the hard work of our people, partners, and communities.
We are deeply thankful to be able to carry out the work we do, and we look forward to improving the rivers and streams of Pennsylvania together.
Click Here for video and photos from the event.
Resource Links:
-- DCNR Secretary Dunn Recognizes Conestoga River As Pennsylvania’s 2026 River Of The Year
Related Articles This Week:
-- Conestoga River Named PA River Of The Year: A River Once Associated With Pollution, Degradation, Now Source Of Community Enjoyment, Recreation [PaEN]
-- Conservation Efforts In Upper Conestoga River Watershed Highlighted In Berks County To Improve Water Quality In Chesapeake Bay [PaEN]
-- Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds Awards More Than $300,000 In Conservation Grants; Next Funding Opportunities [PaEN]
-- House Committee Moves Bills To Prohibit Road Dumping Contaminated Groundwater Released By Conventional Oil & Gas Well Drilling; Setting Minimum Standards For Power Plant Community Benefit Agreements; Encouraging Native Insect Habitats [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Reading Eagle: PA Invests More Than $430,000 To Improve Upper Conestoga River Watershed In Berks County
-- Indiana Gazette: Naturally: Blacklick Creek Watershed And Resilience
-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Contamination Widespread In Delaware River Basin, Study Finds: ‘Global Hotspot’
[Posted: June 10, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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