February 27, 2013

CONTACT:

Adam Bosch (845) 334-7868 / Chris Gilbride (718) 595-6600

Department of Environmental Protection to Host Information Session for Steam-Cleaning Vendors in Preparation for 2013 Boating Season

Current vendors and those interested in becoming certified vendors invited to March 8 meeting

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host an informational meeting on March 8 to review its recreational boating program with steam-cleaning vendors and those interested in becoming DEP-certified vendors. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Catskill Watershed Corporation offices, located at 905 Main St. in Margaretville.

DEP will explain details of the new trolling-motor pilot program for fishing boats at the Cannonsville Reservoir, and the meeting will include training on how trolling motors should be cleaned by vendors. DEP requires all boats to be steam cleaned by a certified vendor before they are used on City reservoirs. This requirement aims to protect against the spread of invasive species that can affect water quality. In 2012, nearly 1,000 tags were issued to recreational boaters who had their boats cleaned by a certified vendor. Recreational boating with a permit is currently allowed at Cannonsville, Neversink, Pepacton, and Schoharie reservoirs. Current steam-cleaning vendors and those interested in becoming a certified vendor are invited to participate in the meeting. Anyone interested in attending should call John Staby at (845) 340-7811 or Peggy Heitzman at (845) 340-7873. For more information about the new trolling-motor pilot program visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/13-003pr.shtml.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City, and residents of Ulster, Orange, Putnam, and Westchester counties. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP employs nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and others professionals in the upstate watershed. In addition to its $68 million payroll and $153 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.5 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council—that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program with over $13 billion in investments planned over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nycwater.