FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE01-17
June
6, 2001
Contact: Geoff Ryan
(718/595-6600)
New
York City Continues to Open More Watershed Lands for Hiking
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is opening
12 new areas of land for hiking and fishing in both the East-of-Hudson and
West-of-Hudson watersheds this spring, according to an announcement by DEP
Commissioner Joel A. Miele Sr., P.E.
"This year DEP has opened over 2,700 acres of water supply land for
hiking and fishing," said Commissioner Miele. "This brings the total
to over 7,000 acres at 29 sites across the watershed. In Putnam County, we
are adding 316 acres to the West Branch Headwaters Unit in Putnam Valley,
which is now 704 acres in size. In Ulster County, we are again doubling the
amount of land available for hiking and fishing with 1,500 new acres in nine
separate parcels in Denning, Olive, Shandaken, Wawarsing and Woodstock. This
makes for over 3,300 acres at 18 sites available in Ulster. Several of these
new parcels provide good new access from public roads to State Forest Preserve
lands. The 472-acre Trout Creek Unit in Wawarsing boasts 2,600 feet of stream
frontage and a dense mountain laurel understory. There are a total of 461
acres at two sites open in Greene County. In Delaware County, the New Kingston
Mountain Unit of 282 acres is the first opening in Roxbury and brings the
total for the County up to 1,479 acres at six sites. We are pleased to continue
making steady progress making lands available for low-impact recreational
use," Mr. Miele continued.
Permits, issued by DEP at no charge this year, are required for access
to these lands, which the City acquired for drinking water quality protection
purposes. The 'hiking' permit allows such activities as, bird-watching, nature
observation and photography, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, as well
as walking. Additionally, the hiking permit allows for fishing on the streams
and ponds located on these newly acquired lands. Special DEP fishing permits
are still required at the reservoirs, however. Hiking permit applicants will
receive maps of the individual parcels with their permits. Hikers and anglers
should be cautious and aware that most of these properties will be opened
for limited deer hunting during November and December this year. This will
enable hunters to help manage deer herds. Hikers are advised either to avoid
visiting the properties during the deer-hunting season or to take adequate
precautions.
"While hikers with valid permits are welcome to enjoy DEP's Water Supply
lands that are designated for such use," said Commissioner Miele, "there
are prohibitions on certain activities including the disposal of garbage,
trash and human waste; on bathing or swimming; on camping, picnicking and
building fires; and on the use of any motorized vehicles. It is important
that visitors observe these rules to demonstrate that recreational activities
on City-owned lands are compatible with the protection of water quality in
the streams and reservoirs of the watershed. Additionally, to ensure personal
safety and to prevent inadvertent trespass on the private property of neighboring
landowners, hikers are asked to review the site maps carefully whenever they
visit any of these City-owned parcels."
DEP advises that there are no maintained trails on any of these properties
at this time, and hikers with permits enter these parcels at their own risk.
The City is seeking to establish stewardship partnerships with organizations,
towns or groups, who may be interested in developing and maintaining trails.
Parking is limited in all areas and generally restricted to roadsides. Permitted
hikers are asked to exercise caution when parking along roads, and to adhere
to all local and applicable parking regulations.
"DEP has been purchasing lands at fair market prices from willing sellers
to protect the quality of water in the streams, wetlands and reservoirs of
the watershed in accordance with n the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA)," said Commissioner Miele. "To identify appropriate recreational
activities consistent with this agreement, DEP consults with towns, villages,
the State Department of Environmental Conservation, the federal Environmental
Protection Agency and the Sporting Advisory Committees. As the City acquires
new properties, we will continue to make many of them available for a variety
of recreational uses compatible with protecting water quality and public safety."
Prior to instituting the City's Land Acquisition Program under the MOA,
the City owned 80,275 acres, which include the actual reservoirs, as well
as the protective buffer lands around them. Traditionally, anglers with City
permits have fished at the reservoirs, while deer hunters have had access
to 10,300 acres at the Cannonsville Reservoir for over 20 years.
As of April 30th, the City had acquired or signed purchase agreements on
an additional 30,051 acres in the eight watershed counties. City ownership
of these lands will help to protect and improve water quality in watershed
wetlands and trout streams, as well as the reservoirs. The City pays assessed
property taxes on all its properties and facilities in the watershed.
Hiking Permit Applications, as well as City Fishing Permit Applications,
may be obtained at DEP's permit offices in the watersheds and in New York
City. Applications may also be downloaded from DEP's Web site (www.nyc.gov/dep),
and will be sent by mail to those who phone 1-800-575-LAND (1-800-575-5263).
Additionally, applications will be available at municipal offices of the towns
in which lands are located. Copies of detailed site maps and hiking regulations
will be given to all permit holders.
The City's Hiking and Fishing Permit offices are open from 8:00 AM to 4:00
PM, Tuesday through Saturday, March 15th through October 15th, at the following
watershed locations:
Croton System Office
1 Belden Road and Route 6
Carmel, NY 10512
914/232-1309 |
Catskill District Office
Route 28A Shokan, NY 12468
914/657-2663 |
Delaware District Office (Sullivan County)
Route 42 Grahamsville, NY 12740
914/985-2524 & 7749 |
Delaware District Office (Delaware County)
Route 30 Downsville, NY 13755
607/363-7009 & 7010 |
The following Hiking and Fishing Permit Offices in New York
City are open during normal business hours, Monday through Friday:
NYCDEP Customer & Conservation Services
1250 Broadway (8th Floor)
New York, NY 10001
212/643-2215 |
NYCDEP One-Stop Center (First Floor)
96-05 Horace Harding Expressway
Corona, NY 11368
718/595-7778 |
LIST OF PROPERTIES
OPEN TO HIKING AND FISHING - 2001
PROPERT UNIT NAME |
MUNICIPALITY |
ACREAGE |
Pepacton Ledges |
Andes |
108 |
Murphy Hill |
Andes & Colchester |
520 |
Weaver Hollow |
Andes & Middletown |
431 |
Red Hill Knolls |
Denning |
164 |
Yagerville Road |
Denning |
152 |
Boyd Corners North |
Kent |
254 |
Horse Pound Brook |
Kent |
1,085 |
Westkill |
Lexington |
263 |
Covesville |
Middletown |
56 |
Huckleberry Brook |
Middletown |
82 |
Blue Hill |
Neversink |
314 |
Piney Point Road |
Olive |
297 |
South Mountain |
Olive |
273 |
West Shokan Cluster |
Olive |
103 |
West Branch Headwaters |
Putnam Valley |
509 |
New Kingston Mountain |
Roxbury |
282 |
Big Indian |
Shandaken |
240 |
Herdman Road |
Shandaken |
17 |
Millbrook Hollow |
Shandaken |
32 |
Romer Mountain |
Shandaken |
16 |
Sheridan Mountain |
Shandaken |
107 |
East Mountain |
Wawarsing |
103 |
Lackawack Hill |
Wawarsing |
103 |
South Rondout |
Wawarsing |
299 |
Trout Creek |
Wawarsing |
472 |
Maplecrest |
Windham |
116 |
Beetree Hill |
Woodstock |
200 |
Mink Hollow |
Woodstock |
502 |
Warner Creek |
Woodstock |
156 |
Wittenberg |
Woodstock |
100 |