Submit your questions to owner@yankeetownpond.com
FISHING:
Eastern Side (along Wittenberg Rd): You will need a DEP Recreational permit (and fishing license) to access this side. DEP does not allow boating at this location to prevent invasives. You can find more at https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/recreation/recreation.page
Western Side (along Pond Rd & Charlie Spanhake Rd): To get to the water here, you must go on private property. If you get permission from the land owner, you're good to go! If you do not have permission - you're trespassing!
YTP is Land-Locked by private property. Landowners bordering water (riparian owners) have rights to use the water, but they cannot legally block navigation. So, once you're on the water, you can go anywhere ON THE WATER. You cannot go onto private land. Remember, you cannot boat from the DEP side. To boat, you must have permission of the land owner, and you need to access on the Western Side.
The above laws apply here too. However, it's important to note that YTP is a special place. It is a migratory path for habitat, as well as home to some endangered species. These animals have the utmost priority and are protected first over recreation. You may think that there is a thorny bush in your way & want to cut it down, BUT DON'T. That bush serves as a home for migratory birds and other creatures. Rocks in your way? Turtles mate & nest here. You can see them crossing the roads to lay their eggs - please don’t harm or interfere with them. Frogs are in abundance during their mating season, as well as many, many others. YTP is a wetland, and is regulated by the NYS DEC. Please be respectful of all life and get permission.
**Correction - NOT "hundreds of Billions of gallons of water" - should have said several hundred million.
Filmed March 29, 2025 Enjoy!

8/13/24 UPDATE:
**PICTURES OF INSTALLATION AVAILABLE IN ALBUMS**
Beavers are our partners in protecting and restoring the planet. They only eat vegetation. They build dams from mud and sticks that create wetlands that are among the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to coral reefs and rain forests. Beaver ponds:
And beaver ponds provide all these valuable ecological services for FREE! A single beaver family can provide us with millions of dollars in ecological services every year! However, despite these valuable ecological services, beavers can cause humans significant damage. Fortunately though, cost-effective, long-term options exist to resolve most human-beaver conflicts and retain most of their wetland benefits. So while beaver removal is an option, removing the offending beavers should used only as a last resort.
A detailed look at Yankeetown Pond's biodiversity. Discover the key findings from the 2021 wildlife survey by Hudsonia Ltd.
8 Pond Rd, Bearsville, NY 12409
Please note that Yankeetown Pond is in parts private property and NYCDEP property. Access is by special Permit only on NYC DEP section.
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