June 7, 2016

Contact:

deppressoffice@dep.nyc.gov (845) 334-7868

Department of Environmental Protection to Host Family Fishing Day at Cannonsville Reservoir

Photos from previous family fishing events can be found on DEP’s Flickr page

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that it will host a Family Fishing Day at Cannonsville Reservoir on Saturday, June 18. The event is co-sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which will supply fishing poles and bait to those who do not have their own. As part of the “I Fish NY Program,” the New York State fishing license requirement is waived for adults who would like to participate in this event. In addition, DEP and DEC staff will be available to teach beginners how to fish. Cannonsville Reservoir is home to many different species of fish, including smallmouth bass, brown trout, carp and sunfish.

The event will happen from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the boat launch on State Route 10, located south of the Apex Bridge just before the intersection with Sands Creek Road. Event signs will be posted near the boat launch to help participants find the location. If adults do not have a free DEP access permit, applications will be available on the day of the event, or a permit can easily be obtained and printed online by going to the DEP website at: nyc.gov/dep/accesspermit. More information can also be obtained by emailing watershedevents@dep.nyc.gov, or by calling DEP at (800) 575-LAND.

Participants are encouraged to register before the event by clicking here or finding the registration link on DEP’s watershed Facebook page.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of high quality water each day to more than 9 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 upstate watershed. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $157 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 nearly $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, or follow us on Twitter.