#2007-21: November 30, 2007 The Catskill Center applauds the agreement to expand recreational use on DEP lands The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development announced its strong support for the agreement to expand public access and recreational use on 11,000 acres of land acquired by the NYC DEP since the 1997 MOA that is adjacent to state land. "This is a great step forward and a logical one," said Catskill Center’s Executive Director Tom Alworth, referring to the cooperative agreement between the NYC DEP and the NYS DEC to open these lands to hiking, hunting, fishing and trapping without a separate permit from NYC. "The Catskill Center has been advocating for expanding recreational uses on watershed lands for a long time and we are delighted to see the Commissioners of DEP and DEC reach an agreement to achieve this on lands contiguous to Forest Preserve and other state lands within New York City’s West of Hudson watershed." The Catskill Center has participated in meetings over several years, some very contentious, convened by the Watershed Partnership and Protection Council and others to resolve this issue. "This new agreement obviously reflects a lot of discussion and hard work, as well as an understanding of the importance of this issue to the economic well-being of watershed communities, to water quality and natural resource protection, and to the public benefit," Alworth said. Added Mr. Alworth, "As signatories to the MOA and supporters of this agreement, The Catskill Center commends the new chairman of the Coalition of Watershed Towns, Dennis Lucas, for his leadership on this issue and acknowledging the progress this agreement on recreational uses represents." The Catskill Center fundamentally believes that appropriate stewardship and public use of protected lands can further the dual goals of water quality and economic vitality in the watershed region, and strengthen the partnerships created through the MOA. The organization sees enormous opportunity in creating trail networks and passive outdoor recreation throughout the Catskill Park and watershed where possible as a key component of a healthy regional economy.