REGION — The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that it will continue the pilot program that allows the use of electric trolling motors for fishing at Cannonsville Reservoir. During the 2015 season, DEP will continue its discussions with fishermen and watershed stakeholders to determine whether the trolling motor program has been useful and whether it should expand to other locations in the years ahead.

The pilot program began in 2013, marking the first time that motorized boats were allowed on any of DEP’s upstate reservoirs. The boats and their electric motors are required to be steam cleaned before they enter Cannonsville Reservoir. Steam cleaning helps to eradicate invasive animals, plants and other microorganisms. If introduced into the water supply, certain invasive species could potentially harm water quality, clog intake pipes, and have detrimental effects on the ecosystem.

Certified steam cleaning vendors will issue two-day trolling motor tags only. These tags will allow fishermen to use their electric trolling motors for two consecutive days before they must be removed from the reservoir. If they are to be used again, the trolling motors must be steam cleaned and a new tag will be issued. These rules do not affect tags that are issued for fishing boats that do not use a motor, nor do they affect tags for recreational boating at other reservoirs in the Catskills.

The trolling motor season ends November 30. A free-of-charge DEP access permit is required for anyone boating and/or fishing on city reservoirs. Access permits can be obtained online by going to nyc.gov/dep/accesspermit. DEP will be assessing the pilot trolling motor program in 2015 and welcomes feedback from recreational participants.