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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14-63

July 28, 2014

CONTACT:

deppressoffice@dep.nyc.gov, (845) 334-7868

Department of Environmental Protection to Host Community Hike on Recently Preserved Land in Delaware County Town of Bovina

Saturday hike will take place on protected land in the Cannonsville Reservoir watershed

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that it will host a community hiking excursion on a recently preserved parcel of land in the Catskills. The hike on Saturday, Aug. 2, will take place on a 240-acre parcel in the Delaware County town of Bovina. DEP’s land preservation experts will lead the hike through meadows and forest to Round Top peak, with an elevation of approximately 3,065 feet. The peak is part of a New York State Reforestation Area.

Hikers will meet at the eastern end of Boggs Road (off Bovina Road) at 11 a.m. The hike is roughly 2-4 miles, depending on how far the group chooses to go, and it will include some woods roads and limited off-trail hiking. The hike includes moderate slopes with some short areas of steep climb. Along the way, DEP will discuss efforts to protect land throughout the watershed. This particular parcel is located within the watershed that feeds the Cannonsville Reservoir. Participants are encouraged to bring lunch, water, tick repellant and appropriate hiking gear. Those interested in participating should register by calling (800) 575-LAND, or by email at recreation@dep.nyc.gov.

Outdoor events such as this are subject to cancellation or postponement based on weather conditions. DEP will provide updates on its Facebook page at facebook.com/nycwater and directly to those who register beforehand and provide contact information.

The guided hike is part of DEP’s ongoing effort to support outdoor recreation and tourism in the Catskills by opening more of its land for low-impact recreation such as hiking. Since 2003, DEP has significantly expanded the amount of City properties within the watersheds that are open for recreation. There are now more than 122,000 acres open for recreation, including more than 88,000 acres of land and nearly 34,000 acres of reservoirs. Of that, roughly 60,000 acres of land are in public access areas that are open to hiking, hunting and other forms of low-impact recreation without a DEP access permit. More information about recreation in the watersheds can be found here.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of high quality water each day to more than 9 million New Yorkers. This includes more than 70 upstate communities and institutions in Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties who consume an average of 110 million total gallons of drinking water daily from New York City’s water supply system. 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 has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and others professionals in the upstate watershed. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $157 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.7 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 $14 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 nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/nycwater.

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