The Delaware River has earned Pennsylvania’s 2025 River of the Year title, securing the most votes in a public competition, according to a staff report from the River Reporter.

The results were announced by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Organization for Waterways and Rivers on February 13.

“The Delaware River is a conservation success story, and this designation is a testament to its historical, cultural, and recreational significance,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

Upper Delaware Council thanked everybody who voted for the Delaware River and noted the win will allow the Delaware River Sojourn Steering Committee to offer special programming in June.

The Delaware River, which played a key role in American history, as the site of Washington’s famous crossing, was crucial in driving the Industrial Revolution. Today, the Delaware River Port is the world’s largest freshwater port, while providing drinking water for over 14 million people.

The Delaware River was once so polluted that ship hulls darkened from the contamination. Over the decades, the river has undergone a dramatic recovery and has been recognized with more National Wild and Scenic designations than any other river.

Read more about the Delaware River being named Pennsylvania’s River of the Year in the River Reporter.

______