March 19, 2013

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

Department of Environmental Protection Releases 2013 Watershed Recreation Newsletter

Annual Newsletter Serves as a Guide for Hiking, Fishing, Boating, and Other Recreational Activities on City Lands in Upstate Watersheds

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the release of its annual Watershed Recreation Newsletter, which serves as a guide for thousands of people who enjoy outdoor activities on City-owned land across the upstate watersheds.

“In recent years, New York City has opened more of its upstate lands and waters to recreation, helping support the tourism economy that employs local residents,” Commissioner Carter Strickland said. “We invite city residents, our upstate neighbors, and people from across the region to visit the pristine watersheds and enjoy all the outdoor activities they offer.”

The Watershed Recreation Newsletter provides information about the recreational boating program, which attracted nearly 1,000 boaters to the Cannonsville, Neversink, Pepacton and Schoharie reservoirs last year. It also includes details about a new pilot program for electric trolling motors on fishing boats, which will start this year at Cannonsville Reservoir. Anglers can also learn about fishing access in the Croton and Catskill-Delaware watersheds. In addition, the newsletter features information about outdoor activities on City land, and invasive species protection.

There are now 114,833 acres of City-owned land open for recreation in the watersheds, including 80,941 acres of land, and reservoirs that comprise 33,892 acres. Of that, 52,198 acres of land are in public access areas that are open to recreation without a DEP permit. Expanding recreational opportunities in the watershed is one of the goals outlined in Strategy 2011-2014, a comprehensive strategic plan that outlines 100 distinct initiatives to help ensure that DEP is the safest, most efficient, cost-effective, and transparent water utility in the nation.

The 2013 Watershed Recreation Newsletter can be found on DEP’s website. A copy has also been posted to the department’s Facebook page at facebook.com/nycwater.

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 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 $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 $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.