Buffalo Creek and Loyalhanna looking for votes for Pa. River of the Year

Heading in the final stretch of voting for River of the Year, with a $10,000 grant and more at stake, the region’s two finalists Buffalo Creek and Loyalhanna Creek are in third and fourth place, respectively.

Sponsored by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the River of the Year is determined by state residents casting their votes via the internet. After a waterway is chosen for the honor, local groups serve up a year-round slate of activities and events to celebrate the state designation. Among them is a paddling trip, called a sojourn.

As of Monday, after about a month of voting, 9,030 ballots were cast, according to the departmen.:

The Shenango River, in the northwestern part of the state is in the lead with 32% of the votes, followed by the Lehigh River in eastern Pennsylvania with 29%, Buffalo Creek with 15%, Loyalhanna Creek with 13%,and Tunkhannock Creek in the eastern part of the state with 9%.

To vote, visit the department’s special River of the Year website.

Voting ends Friday, Jan. 22.

A push for Buffalo, Loyalhanna creeks

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, which has nominated Buffalo Creek for a second time, is doing a final push for votes. The creek flows from Butler County into Freeport, Armstrong County, where it flows into the Allegheny River.

“Every vote for Buffalo Creek is a vote to bring new recreational and environmental funding in to our region,” said Rachel Handel, Audubon spokeswoman. Last year Buffalo Creek was nominated and came in second place, losing to the Lackawanna River in Susquehanna County.

Audubon has dedicated itself to preserving and encouraging appreciation and recreational usage of the area that includes Todd Nature Reserve in Buffalo Township, the Butler-Freeport Community Trail and the under-construction Buffalo Creek Nature Park and nature park, also in the township.

“The area is also home to many species of conservation concern and contains some of the state’s best fishing and is a true treasure within our community,” she said.

The Loyalhanna Watershed Association was also rousing its members and the public to vote.

Loyalhanna has been a nominee twice.

“This is a great opportunity,” said association Director Susan Huba earlier. Plus, she said, 2021 is a big year for the association, which will celebrate its 50^th year.