Schuylkill vies for top spot in Pennsylvania River of the Year contest

Have you ever heard of the Monongahela River? Some call it the Mon. It's one of Pittsburgh's 'big three' and it's currently the front-runner for Pennsylvania's River of the Year. The Lackawanna, Juniata, Swatara, Kiskiminetas and the Schuylkill are also up for the honor, which is bestowed annually upon one of the Commonwealth's waterways.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the contest is sponsored by Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, run by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, and meant to raise awareness for the state's waterways.

The Schuylkill is currently in second place. But voting continues through Jan. 18, so there's still time for our home-fed favorite to take the title.

In this competition, it's not all about size. Last year's winner was Stonycreek River in Laurel Highlands, a 45-mile tributary, while the 2011 title went to the Delaware.

The winner of this year's competition will get $10,000 and a lifetime worth of bragging rights.