A Catskills swimming hole has gotten so popular that the state has enacted emergency regulations to protect the area.
The Department of Environmental Conservation says the area known as the Peekamoose Blue Hole in Ulster County has always been popular. But last summer it was swarmed with as many as 700 people a day, thanks to social media and websites touting it as "one of the best swimming holes in the nation."
The area around the Blue Hole on Rondout Creek has been fouled with human waste, garbage, and broken glass. Local residents are concerned about safety, with big crowds and scores of illegally parked cars.
Emergency regulations will restrict access to daylight hours; prohibit camping, fires, glass containers and audio devices; and limit parking to designated areas.
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