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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19-019
March 29, 2019
Contact: deppressoffice@dep.nyc.gov, (845) 334-7868

DEP Encourages Anglers to Enjoy World-class Trout Fishing in the Watershed

Fishing at Rondout Reservoir

Fishing brochure provides anglers with info about fish species throughout reservoir system

To mark the start of trout-fishing season on April 1, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection encouraged anglers to enjoy world-class fishing on its upstate reservoirs and dozens of properties through the Catskills and Hudson Valley that include frontage along creeks and streams. Twenty-two reservoirs and lakes, covering more than 35,000 acres, will be open for fishing from shore or boats that have a valid DEP boat tag. Most of these reservoirs and lakes include habitat for coldwater species such as trout and warmwater species such as smallmouth and largemouth bass.

New York’s trout season generally runs from April 1 until Oct. 15. However, the trout-fishing season on certain New York City reservoirs is open year-round or closes later in the year. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) outlines statewide fishing regulations, including information on licenses, catch limits, and stocking.

“DEP is proud to invite our watershed neighbors and visitors to enjoy angling on our reservoirs, which offer some of the best trout fishing anywhere in the northeast,” DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said. “In recent years, our employees have worked hard to expand fishing access throughout our watershed and share information about outdoor recreation with more people. That effort will continue this year as we plan to host additional fishing events for families, helping this proud tradition continue with the next generation of anglers and environmental stewards.”

For 2019, DEP has issued an updated fishing brochure that provides anglers with helpful information about permitting, fishing locations and more. The brochure also features information about the fishing conditions and fish species at each of the reservoirs and lakes.

Anglers can also find fishing areas by using the RecMapper, an interactive map created by DEP to help outdoor enthusiasts pinpoint access at more than 400 recreation units across the watershed. Anglers can use the digital map to zoom in to each property, find waterbodies, and print driving directions. Shore fishing and boat-launch areas at each reservoir are clearly labeled on the interactive map, which is also good for finding small lakes, ponds or stream frontage that are suitable for fishing. Angler maps that show the water depths within each reservoir, as well as other recreation information, are also available at nyc.gov/dep/recreation.

Fishing on all city-owned reservoirs and lakes, along with some recreation units along streams and creeks, requires a free DEP Access Permit. An access permit can be obtained through DEP’s online permitting system. Those with questions about permitting may also email recreation@dep.nyc.gov or call (800) 575-LAND. Those fishing on streams that run across water supply lands should carefully check signs in those recreation units to determine whether a permit is required.

The breadth of fishing opportunities on City reservoirs and land underscores DEP’s effort to support the recreation and tourism economies in the watershed by opening more properties to recreation. There are currently more than 136,000 acres of City property open for recreation in the watersheds, including the reservoirs.

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 $19.7 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.

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