The New York City Department of Environmental Protection on Friday released the final version of updated water recreation rules. The rules apply to water supply properties in Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester Counties.
The new rules, which go into effect June 30, include many updates intended to improve recreational access across more than 137,000 acres of New York City’s reservoirs and the watershed lands that surround them. Some of the changes include expanding the recreational boating season by about six weeks, running from May 1 to October 31. The term for fishing boat tags increases from two to four years. Sailboats will no longer be permitted on reservoirs that allow recreational boating. Launching and landing drones; target shooting and horseback riding are all prohibited on DEP property, as is smoking, including e-cigarettes.