Connoquenessing Creek nominated for state's top river
The dramatic turnaround for a Butler County waterway once derided as the second-most polluted in America continues.
Connoquenessing Creek is one of five nominees for the Pennsylvania 2018 River of the Year award — and the winner gets a $10,000 grant.
The annual contest is run by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers — a nonprofit organization that is an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
The Connoquenessing was nominated by the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance, said Christina Handley, president of the board of directors.
The organization that nominated the river or creek that wins the vote will receive a $10,000 leadership grant from DCNR to fund River of the Year activities, according to a news release.
Voting is taking place online through Dec. 22 on the POWR Facebook page and on pariveroftheyear.org. Voting is limited to one vote per email address.
“The River of the Year contest allows all Pennsylvanians to highlight the many wonderful waterways they enjoy,” said Janet Sweeney of POWR in a news release. “While we formally recognize only one river with this award, we acknowledge the unique value of all rivers and their contribution to the overall environmental quality of Pennsylvania and the quality of life for all who enjoy them.”
The four other nominees this year are:
- The Lackawanna River, which runs through the northern Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania
- The Little Juniata River, which starts in Blair County
- Lower Susquehanna/Susquehanna Riverlands in southeastern Pennsylvania
- Loyalsock Creek, which runs through Sullivan and Lycoming counties.
Connoquenessing Creek starts north of Butler and winds through the county west into Beaver County and then north into Lawrence County where it flows into the Beaver River near Ellwood City.
The creek was once a favorite spot for boaters and fishermen, but many locals abandoned it when pollution made it unsafe. However, reduced pollution and the efforts of volunteers like the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance have changed things, Handley said.
“In 2000, it was called the second-most polluted waterway in America and in less than two decades we've definitely reversed that negative stigma and have improved the water quality and improved the recreational impact,” she said.
The Alliance has organized annual cleanups every year since 2012, pulling garbage out of different parts of the creek each year. Next year, it will clean up the final stretch of the creek.
In recent years, fish have been healthier and more plentiful and other animals have returned, including bald eagles. The group has also added more public boat launches and organized events highlighting the creek.
Some of the programs that would be paid for with the $10,000 grant would include four organized sojourns on the creek, a photo contest, continuing the cleanup efforts and adding new public access areas.
The 2017 River of the Year was the Allegheny River (middle and upper areas).
