By Patricia Breakey
Delhi News Bureau
A new stretch of open water surrounded by breathtaking scenery will be available for recreational boating at the Cannonsville Reservoir this summer.
New York City Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway announced that the additional five square miles of Cannonsville Reservoir will be open at the start of this year's boating season May 28.
A three-year pilot program to expand recreational boating opportunities at Cannonsville Reservoir that began last year has been expanded westward from the Cannonsville Bridge to 500 feet from the Cannonsville Dam.
For the first year of the pilot program, 407 tags were issued for kayaks, canoes, rowboats and small sailboats. Previously, only fishing boats with proper permits were allowed on the reservoir.
Patty Cullen, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce tourism director, said the participation the first year was "just fantastic" and she thinks the added area, with its wide-open spaces, will encourage more people to put sailboats on the reservoir.
"Being a good neighbor is crucial to our partnerships in the watershed," Holloway said in a media release. "Opening up the remaining third of the Cannonsville Reservoir for families and visitors ensures that as many people as possible can take advantage of this great resource and has the added benefit of encouraging tourism and economic activity in the region." Jack Harrigan, owner of the Rainbow Lodge where tags were issued and boats were powerwashed, said the program "worked out well for me and it is good for the area. It brought people in and there were no problems." Harrigan said he powerwashed more than 100 boats at his facility, which was one of six sites designated for tags and boat preparation.
"This program is evolving into a fantastic summertime activity," James Eisel, Delaware County Board of Supervisors chairman said. "We have found no negative impacts on the Cannonsville Reservoir from the pilot recreational boating program.
"It only makes sense to expand the program to within 500 feet of the dam, giving a more open expanse of surface water for sailboating," Eisel added. A new launch site will be constructed at Roods Creek to support the new expansion.
"This is just a huge pat on the back for Delaware County for running a good program," Cullen said. "The access at Roods Creek will bring more people from the Hancock area and will draw more fishing people."
Cullen said she hopes recreational kayakers will take advantage of the flat water, where the water is deep and there are no concerns about canoes and kayaks bottoming out like they do in the rivers.
"We want to promote this as a family outing where you don't have to worry about fast water and there is easy access," she said.
The reservoir is open from sunrise to sunset from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend. To obtain a recreational boat tag, a boat owner will need a DEP access permit, which is available for free online. Owners will also need their boat steam-cleaned by a DEP certified vendor. Seasonal boat tags are also available by appointment with the DEP Downsville Region Office at 363-7009.
Details of the recreational boating program, including the online DEP access permit, a downloadable DEP boat tag application form, and a list of certified vendors can be found at www.nyc.gov/dep.
Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
