June 12, 2006

Contact: Ian Michaels (718) 595-6600

DEP to Auction Over 500 Boats

Commissioner Emily Lloyd of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that the DEP will auction boats that have been abandoned on City water supply lands. 

The City allows the storage of boats on water supply property for fishing, provided the boats are steam cleaned and meet certain other requirements.  There are currently over 10,000 boats on the shores of 19 City reservoirs.  Occasionally, boats with expired permits are left for many years without being used.  The DEP will then remove that boat for auction.  Since 2003, DEP has auctioned off 1,635 boats.

 Boats are usually auctioned in lots ranging in size from 1 to 10 boats.  Sometimes large lots of around 100 boats are offered, which is attractive for commercial entities who want to resell the boats.  Recently, the City also donated several boats to local fire departments that had requested them.

The DEP plans to hold a Fathers Day boat auction each year.  The agency also maintains a boat auction notification list for people to receive notice of upcoming auctions.  The list currently has over 300 people.

The current auction includes 502 boats in lots ranging from 1 to 98 boats.  Bids are due by June 26, 2006.  Boats are available for viewing at DEP Land Management offices in Schoharie, Grahamsville, Shokan and Mahopac, where bid solicitation packages will also be distributed.  Please contact the offices for information at: Schoharie (607) 588-6231, Grahamsville (845) 985-0386, Shokan (845) 657-2663, Mahopac (914) 232-1309.  Call (800) 575-LAND to be put on the auction notification list.