January 12, 2022

Rentals propelled boating program to more than 1,800 visits

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that its recreational boating program on four reservoirs in the Catskills attracted 1,826 visitors in 2021, breaking the previous annual record by more than 150. The increase in use was largely attributable to boat rentals from certified vendors. A total of 1,201 people rented a pre-cleaned boat to paddle on the reservoirs last year, outpacing the previous record by more than 250 rentals.

“The increased use of our recreation boating program reflects a broader uptick in the number of visitors to the Catskills,” DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said. “The pandemic has supercharged our neighbors’ interest in outdoor recreation, as they sought safe and fun experiences with their families. We are happy that many have found that experience through paddling on four of our reservoirs in the Catskills, and by renting a boat from one of local businesses that make the process easy while also protecting water quality.”

“Breaking participation records in the reservoir boating program despite less-than-perfect weather this season is a testament to the growth in popularity of outdoor recreation in the watershed,” said Jason Merwin, Executive Director of the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC). “CWC is proud to participate and work with DEP and local vendors to ensure the program continues to grow. Environmentally friendly recreation and economic development in the region continues to demonstrate a compatibility with the protection of water quality, benefitting watershed communities in the Catskills and the millions of customers of the water supply.”

2021 marked the 10th year of recreational boating at Cannonsville, Neversink, Pepacton and Schoharie reservoirs. A total of 1,826 canoes and kayaks were registered with DEP or rented from local businesses last year. Of those, 1,201 boats were rented from local businesses and 625 boats were registered directly with DEP. Pepacton Reservoir led the way with 1,003 visits, followed by Neversink Reservoir with 526, Schoharie Reservoir with 182, and Cannonsville Reservoir with 115. Of the boats registered directly with DEP, most were owned by residents of watershed counties and visitors from the New York City metro area. Boating tags were also issued to visitors from 12 states, including Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

Rental boats were available at the reservoirs for the eighth year. The rental program, administered in partnership with the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC), provides easier boating access for visitors and local residents who do not own a boat. CWC funded the acquisition of 30 storage racks for the rental boats, and it administers the process to vet and approve businesses that applied to participate in the rental program. CWC is currently looking for a business partner to offer pre-cleaned rental boats for Cannonsville Reservoir, which does not have a business providing that service. Any business owner who would like to provide rental boats for Cannonsville Reservoir can contact Barbara Puglisi at CWC by email at puglisi@cwconline.org.

Prior to 2009, DEP only issued tags for metal rowboats that were used and stored at the reservoirs for the purpose of fishing. More than 13,000 tags are currently issued to anglers who have rowboats at the reservoirs. Regular water-quality monitoring at each of these reservoirs has shown no impact from recreational boating. DEP’s invasive species experts have surveyed every boat launch site and found no sign of aquatic plants or animals that can harm drinking water quality. Every boat that is used on the reservoirs is required to be inspected and steam cleaned to avoid the spread of invasive species.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality water each day to nearly 10 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 $2.7 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.