MU, Borough Collaborate to Recognize Conestoga as PA River of the Year

An April 24 clean-up event sponsored by a Millersville University student organization and Millersville Borough will kick off efforts to celebrate the Conestoga River being named the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

The Conestoga, which runs adjacent to the Millersville University campus and through Millersville Borough, is a 61-mile tributary of the Susquehanna River flowing through Lancaster County. It was selected for this honor in recognition of the extensive conservation and restoration efforts underway, the strong community partnerships working to improve water quality and its significance as both an ecological corridor and recreational asset for South Central Pennsylvania.

The Conestoga River Club nominated the Conestoga River and is receiving a $15,000 Leadership Grant to help fund a slate of year-long activities. The Club will be joined by Millersville University and the Borough of Millersville as they plan events and activities to honor the recognition. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and POWR will work with them to create a free, commemorative poster celebrating the Conestoga River as the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year.

"The Conestoga River being named 2026 River of the Year is an honor that celebrates a history woven into the fabric of life in Lancaster County," said Conestoga River Club Executive Director Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck. "From the legacy of the Conestoga people to the iconic wagons that helped shape a nation, to the community families that recreate in its meandering shallows, the Conestoga River is deeply beloved."

The kick-off event on April 24 is an extension of an annual spring trash clean-up that has been held for the past five years by the student organization Conestoga Outdoors Club, according to Kaitlynn Hamaty, Millersville University's sustainability manager. "The Conestoga Outdoors Club takes pride and looks forward to hosting in their annual spring trash clean-up on campus and into Millersville Borough," says Hamaty. "This year they will continue the tradition but will also take special interest in walking along the Conestoga Riverbank collecting any litter or material they can find to keep it from going into the waterway."

Students will break into groups and spend about an hour at a campus location collecting litter. After the allotted time, they will meet at a central location to gather the collected trash and enjoy pizza.

Millersville Borough is partnering with the Conestoga Outdoors Club this year "to spread the word and encourage Borough residents to volunteer as well," Hamaty says. The Borough will also transport the collected trash to LCSWMA.

"The Borough of Millersville is thrilled to support the students of the MU Conestoga Outdoors Club in their efforts to celebrate the Conestoga River through a community clean-up," says Rebecca DeSantis-Randall, borough manager. "We appreciate their willingness to allow the Borough to partner on this event. These efforts help to keep the areas surrounding the area clean, and in turn, provide a clean environment for our residents. We look forward to the continued partnership with MU as we celebrate the Conestoga River!"

"We hope that this event will be a great town-gown collaboration that highlights the Conestoga River and possibly extends to additional partnerships," says Hamaty.

"This recognition presents a wonderful opportunity for Millersville University to celebrate this natural asset that connects our campus to the broader region while advancing our educational and stewardship missions," says Dr. Victor DeSantis, vice president of university relations and strategic initiatives. "Having the PA River of the Year in our backyard is a unique opportunity."