I always thought the New York rules were so stupid as there’s so many other sources of pollution going to the lakes, but God forbid somebody swims in it lolMost of the NYC reservoirs were created by damning up streams, so many of them look a lot like rivers in places (see attached).
They are also often named after the towns they buried, which caused a lot of resentment from folks whose families had lived in those towns for generations.
You can compensate people to move, but you can't give them their town back.
Bordens condensed milk used to be in Brewster NY, but the NYC reservoirs closed so many dairy farms they moved their operation.
The reservoirs also have many restrictions ... no motor or sail boats, and no swimming. Row boats are only allowed by permit, and either have to remain at the reservoir and get steam cleaned before they re-enter.
I used to fish from shore at some of the local reservoirs, but you can't do it anymore. The lawn fertilizers, etc make it impossible to retrieve any line you throw out (too much vegetation). Very disappointing, I've taken my grandsons a few times and had to return home w/o ever getting a line wet.
My property is to the West of Rte 268, in that section where you can see the reservoir to the North, East and West. The nearest town is Apex. Actually, NYC DEP property blocks my Northern view, but I can see the reservoir both East and West.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/C...9b097ec3800f7f!8m2!3d42.0941433!4d-75.3208107
Urban legend has it that the former North American record northern pike that supposedly was taken in Sacandaga, was actually taken in a reservoir by Greenville, therefore illegal.