The New York City Department of Environmental Protection will postpone the opening of its recreational boating season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The season was scheduled to open May 1. It will be postponed until at least Memorial Day weekend, May 23, and potentially longer. The recreational boating program allows the use of canoes and kayaks on four of New York City’s water supply reservoirs in the Catskills – the Cannonsville, Neversink, Pepacton and Schoharie. To protect water quality in the reservoirs, the recreational boating program relies on a small network of businesses that steam clean the boats before they are used each spring to prevent the spread of invasive species. Many of these businesses are closed as part of the statewide effort to slow the spread of the virus. Fishing from rowboats with valid boat tags will continue to be permitted on DEP reservoirs, along with shoreline fishing.
