Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week named the West Branch of the Susquehanna River as Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2005 to celebrate the waterway's rebound from a troubled past to a promising future.

The annual designation applauds local residents, governments, non-profit and conservation organizations working to improve waterways and the quality of life in their watersheds across the state.

This year's honor also focuses on the unlimited recreational and tourism potential offered by the river as it travels more than 230 miles from near Bakerton, Cambria County, to its junction with the river's main body near Northumberland, Northumberland County.

With the one-year designation, the West Branch will be the subject of a June Rivers Month poster, and an annual River Sojourn will be sponsored by DCNR and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

The West Branch Sojourn, set for June 2-6, will travel from Keating, Clinton County, to Williamsport, Lycoming County. Last year's featured river was the North Branch of the Susquehanna.

A map and guide of the "Susquehanna River Water Trail - West Branch" was recently completed by the Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania, with funding from the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and DCNR Heritage Parks Program. The water trail is part of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, a partnership system of more than 20 water trails and 120 parks, refuges, maritime museums and historic sites in the Chesapeake watershed.

For more information visit the West Branch Susquehanna River webpage, West Branch Symposium in May and the West Branch Sojourn in June. Go to the schedule for 2005 river sojourns to find a trip near you.

What’s a sojourn? Visit the Pennsylvania Sojourn webpage.

NewsClip: West Branch Honored as River of the Year

3/25/2005