Department of Environmental Protection Announces June 9 Family Fishing Day at Rondout Reservoir

June 1, 2019

Event co-sponsored by state Department of Environmental Conservation “I Fish NY Program”

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that it will host Family Fishing Day at Rondout Reservoir on Sunday, June 9. The event is co-sponsored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which will supply fishing poles and bait to those who do not have their own. Families that have their own tackle are encouraged to bring it. As part of the “I Fish NY Program,” the New York State fishing license requirement is waived for adults who want to fish during this event. Adults who do not have a free DEP Access Permit are encouraged to get one before coming to the event. Participants can get their free permit and print it from home by visiting: www.nyc.gov/dep/accesspermit.

The 2,118-acre Rondout Reservoir is home to many species of fish, including lake trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, carp and panfish. DEP and DEC staff will be available to teach participants how to fish and assist with fishing equipment. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parking will be located at the universal access area on Route 55A near the intersection with Yeagerville Road. Signs will be posted along the roadway to help participants find the event location. For more information about the event, call DEP recreation supervisor Tom Davidock at (845) 340-7812.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality water each day to more than 9.6 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 other professionals in the watershed. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $168.9 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 $20.1 billion in investments planned over the next decade that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.