Voting opened Monday for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ 2021 River of the Year contest, which includes Buffalo Creek in Butler County among the nominees.

The other nominees are the Lehigh River, Loyalhanna Creek, Shenango River and Tunkhannock Creek. Nominations were based on each waterway’s conservation needs and successes, as well as celebration plans if the nominee is voted 2021 River of the Year. In cooperation with DCNR, selection of public voting choices is overseen by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

Public voting runs through 5 p.m. Jan. 22. A POWR website enables voting and offers details on nominated waterways and the River of the Year program. After a waterway wins, local groups implement a year-round slate of activities and events to celebrate the river, including a paddling trip. The organization nominating the winning river receives a $10,000 leadership grant from DCNR to help fund River of the Year activities.