Times Observer file photo The Allegheny River, winner of the 2017 River of the Year designation, is up for the recognition again. Voting for the 2024 award is open through Jan. 19.

The Allegheny River was selected as Pennsylvania’s 2017 River of the Year.

It’s in the running for the 2024 award.

Voting for the River of the Year is now open and will be open until 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 at pawatersheds.org/vote-for-a-2024-river-of-the-year/.

The Allegheny, which splits Warren County nearly in half, is one three nominees, along with the Lackawaxen River in the northeast corner of the state and the Youghiogheny River in the southwest.

“I am excited for this year’s competition and look forward to seeing which river comes out on top,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.

“This annual competition is a great way to highlight Pennsylvania’s special waterways and the benefits they bring for conservation, recreation, economic development, and so much more. We look forward to tallying up votes and announcing the 2024 River of the Year in the coming months.”

The river that’s selected wins more than just a title. The organization nominating the winning river will receive a $10,000 grant from the state to fund activities and events to celebrate the river, including a paddling trip.

The Allegheny appears to have been nominated by the Pittsburgh-based Three Rivers Waterkeeper.

According to DCNR, nominations were based on a waterway’s “conservation needs, successes and programming plans if the nominee is voted 2024 River of the Year.

DCNR partners with the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, which handles the voting.

This marks the fourteenth year of the contest.

The 2023 River of the Year is the North Branch Susquehanna River.

The Conewango Creek was recognized as the 2015 River of the Year.