Tourism, Conservation Officials Stumping on Behalf of Kiski River

Valley News Dispatch
24 December 2011
By Michael Aubele

It's in the running, but the Kiski River faces the prospect of finishing last in a voter-driven contest to name the Pennsylvania River of the Year.

The possibility baffles StrongLand Chamber of Commerce President Allan Walzak, who noted the communities around the Kiski are home to about 200,000 residents.

Walzak said the river recently moved up from last place, according to an unofficial tally of the online voting. The Kiski River, with 641 votes, had a 16-vote edge last week over the Upper Juniata River, he said.

The Kiski is among four rivers vying for the title, bestowed by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The others include the Middle Monongahela, Stoneycreek and Upper Juniata rivers.

"We don't want our region's most beautiful resource to finish third or second in the competition," Walzak said. "There are some really good reasons for Alle-Kiski Valley citizens to sit down at their computers and vote for the Kiski as their favorite local river."

The award carries with it a $10,000 prize given by the DCNR that will be used to promote tourism and added river programs. Walzak said the money would support an effort to create a road and river sign system.

He suggested good reasons for voting include garnering "statewide and national recognition for the magnificent cleanup and park development that has taken place by local watershed associations, such as the Roaring Run and Kiski associations over the past 15 years."

Walzak believes the title could bring an influx of money into the region through tourism.

"Tourism, being one of the top three industries within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, has long been neglected in the Alle-Kiski region," he said.

"After 13 years of orchestrating three- and four-day canoe and kayak sojourns on local waters, the StrongLand Chamber of Commerce remains confident knowing that tourism will continue to flourish and grow on local waters due to the uniqueness of what we have and what it's becoming.

"Local businesses and organizations have joined together to build riverside parks and parklets, user-friendly put-ins and takeouts for small craft as well as setting up liveries and shuttles to act as guides for those who do not have their own equipment or expertise to safely use our local waterways."

For the past 20 years, the DCNR has annually recognized one Pennsylvania river as the River of the Year. The recognition is meant to raise awareness of the important recreational, ecological, and historical resources associated with the state's rivers and streams.

The finalists for the award are chosen through a public nomination process, according to the DCNR.

Michael Aubele can be reached at maubele@tribweb.com or 724-226-4673.