Outdoors
Get a DEP Permit Before Reservoir Recreation
NYC watershed reservoirs and nearby water-supply lands can be open for recreation, but many areas require a free DEP Access Permit.
Published June 23, 2026 · Last verified June 23, 2026
The New York City watershed is more than infrastructure.
It is also reservoir country, with mapped public recreation areas where a quiet fishing plan or woods walk may still begin with DEP rules.
An Access Permit is required on City-owned recreational lands posted with Entry by Permit signs. Lands next to reservoirs that are open for recreation also require the permit. The permit can allow activities such as fishing on City reservoirs and hiking or fishing on designated City lands. New Access Permits are free and valid for five years.
Before heading out, use the DEP recreation map to match the reservoir or City-owned parcel to the activity you have in mind. Read the posted access category too. If the land is marked Entry by Permit, get the free five-year Access Permit before going in. For fishing, boating, or bringing a guest, check whether the trip also needs a fishing license, boat tag, or guest pass. Carry the permissions that match that place and activity. If the landscape is part of the drinking-water system, start the recreation plan with the agency that manages it.