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$462,000 in Upgrades to Fishing Access Site at Forge Pond on the Peconic River Now Complete

Written by Long Island News & PR  |  07. June 2015

Brookhaven, NY - June 5, 2015 - The approximately $462,000 improvement project at the Forge Pond (Peconic Lake) Fishing Access Site on the Peconic River in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, is now complete, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. Upgrades at the site include parking and safety improvements, as well as the installation of a concrete ramp for launching trailered boats and an accessible dock for launching canoes and kayaks. Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) stewardship money funded the project.

"This is yet another example of Governor Cuomo's ongoing effort to get people connected to the many exceptional recreational outdoor experiences New York State has to offer," Commissioner Martens said. "The new ramp and parking spots will allow individuals with mobility impairments to get out and enjoy this natural area."

Forge Pond, also known as Peconic Lake, is Suffolk County's third largest lake at 120 acres. It has a robust community of warmwater gamefish and panfish and is part of the Peconic Estuary system, one of 29 nationally recognized estuaries in the United States.

The opening of the site coincides with the start of Suffolk County's largemouth bass season, which runs from the first Saturday in June (June 6) through November 30. There is a five fish daily limit with a 12" minimum size. A catch and release season for largemouth bass runs from December 1 through April 30. The largemouth bass season is closed from May 1 to a day before the regular season opener (June 5).

The lake is also home to an abundance of chain pickerel, black crappie, sunfish and brown bullhead, which anglers can catch.

NY's Open for Fishing and Hunting
Governor Cuomo's NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.

Under the initiative, significant improvements have been made to the state fish hatchery system and network of boating and fishing. The 2015-16 Enacted Budget adds an additional $8 million for state land access projects and an additional $4 million for the state's hatcheries in NY Works funding which included repaving and painting at Caledonia Hatchery, and the acquisition of 16 new large stocking trucks and associated fish transport equipment. Other projects slated for completion this year are replacement of fish rearing raceways (Chateaugay and Caledonia), installation of new water treatment and heating equipment (Chautauqua and Oneida), and replacement of the roof at Salmon River Hatchery.

Over the past five years, more than $6 million has been invested in developing new and renovating existing boat launches. These projects include new boat launch facilities on Cuba Lake (Allegany County), Round Lake (Saratoga County) and Point Peninsula Isthmus and Three Mile Bay on Lake Ontario (Jefferson County). Boat launch renovations have been completed on Second Pond (Lower Saranac Lake) in Franklin County, Great Sacandaga Lake in Saratoga County, Lake Champlain (Peru Docks) in Clinton County and Schroon Lake (Horicon) in Warren County. By the beginning of the 2015 boating season reconstruction of a boat launch on Upper Saranac Lake (Franklin County) will have been completed. A new boat launch at Lake George Beach on Lake George will also be completed for boaters to enjoy.

Additional Information
Forge Pond, Calverton
Long Island / NYC Freshwater Fishing Opportunities

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