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The Watershed Experience” has been postponed due to inclement weather. The event will now take place on Saturday, June 22nd.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13-56

May 10, 2013

CONTACT:

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

Department of Environmental Protection Invites Tourism Destinations in Catskill/Delaware Watershed to Participate in Event at Brooklyn Bridge Park

The Watershed Experience Aims to Market Destinations in the Watershed to NYC Residents

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that it will partner with tourism agencies, businesses, and nonprofits across the Catskill/Delaware Watershed to promote outdoor recreation and tourism destinations at a one-day event at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City. DEP will host “The Watershed Experience” on June 8 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The event aims to market tourism destinations in the Catskills to New York City residents who have increasingly sought day trips and short vacations within driving distance of the City.

“Many New York City residents can remember a family vacation, a fishing trip, or some other excursion to the Catskills,” said DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland. “We want to strengthen that historic connection between the metropolitan area and the Catskill region by reminding City residents about all the wonderful outdoor recreation and tourism attractions in the watershed, including recreational boating, fishing, and hiking on City-owned properties.”

DEP is inviting any interested tourism destinations in and around the watershed to participate in this unique event, including those that offer hiking, fishing, boating, farm tours, local food, lodging, concerts, antiquing, fall foliage tours, golfing, sporting events, and much more. There is no cost to participate in the event. Brooklyn Bridge Park, among the most popular public parks in the City, draws roughly 30,000 visitors on an average weekend. The event will be held at the Pier 1 promenade on the East River, overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

Participants are not permitted to sell anything at the event. However, free samples and giveaways are encouraged. No alcohol is allowed. Event set-up will begin at 6 a.m. The event will happen rain or shine. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own tents and tables.

Watershed businesses, nonprofits and other tourism destinations that wish to participate or would like more details should contact Adam Bosch at (845) 334-7868, or boscha@dep.nyc.gov no later than May 17.

The event is part of DEP’s ongoing effort to support the tourism economy in the Catskills through opening its lands and reservoirs for outdoor recreation. City reservoirs comprising 33,892 acres are open for recreation. That includes the recreational boating program that started last year at the Cannonsville, Pepacton, Neversink and Schoharie reservoirs. More than 80,000 acres of City-owned land in the watershed is also open to hiking, hunting, cross-country skiing, and other low-impact recreational activities. That includes more than 52,000 acres of land that can be accessed without a permit.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.3 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 employs 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 $157 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 www.nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nycwater.

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