land management
Land Management Program

Program Summary

Photos

New York City has owned watershed lands outside its municipal boundaries since 1834, when land acquisitions began to dam the Croton River and create the City’s first upstate reservoir. As the water supply system expanded to support modern New York, the City’s ownership of upstate lands increased. Much of the land was acquired for the development of additional water storage capacity. The only recreation allowed was fishing from the reservoirs' banks and in row boats.

With the signing of the Watershed Agreement in 1997, the City began an ambitious effort to purchase more watershed land, beyond the immediate areas around the reservoirs, to protect water quality. As part of the MOA, New York City agreed to open some of the newly-acquired properties to recreational use that was compatible with water quality protection.

The Land Management Program is responsible for monitoring, protecting and coordinating the use of all City-owned lands, reservoirs and easements. Since 1997, the City has acquired more than 43,500 acres of land in the watershed, and 16,000 of those acres are now available for recreation under the Access Permit system developed and administered by the Land Management Program. Activities allowed on these lands include hiking, fishing, cross-country and snow-shoeing, deer hunting, birding and other usess that don't jeopardize water quality. The Access Permits are currently free, and as of June 30, 2003, DEP had issued more than 60,000 permits.

In addition to administering the Access Permit system, Land Management staff perform land planning activities, land monitoring, property and resource management, conservation easement monitoring, acquisition assistance and stewardship outreach and education. Twice yearly, DEP publishes Watershed Recreation, a newsletter sent to all Access Permit holders. For information about DEP Access Permits, call 1-800-575-LAND or write:

Permit Office
DEP Bureau of Water Supply
71 Smith Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401

Additional Information

For more information about Public Access and recreational opportunities on City lands, please visit www.nyc.gov/watershedrecreation.