8th Annual Veolia Lake DeForest Day to be Held Saturday, June 29th ; the day will include fun events for the whole family

Veolia will once again host the annual Lake DeForest Day for the 8th year in a row on Saturday, June 29th from 8:00 am through 3:00 pm. Individuals and families are welcome to attend to kayak, boat, and fish and enjoy the beauty of Lake DeForest. All event proceeds will be donated to Hackensack Riverkeeper with a mission to protect, preserve, and restore the Hackensack River Watershed. The opening ceremony and the Drescher Cup Award presentation will take place at 9:00 am. The event will take place rain or shine.

Lake DeForest Day is one of the few opportunities the public has to paddle Lake DeForest, one of Rockland’s most important and picturesque natural resources. The day will kick off with a Fishing Derby starting at 8:00 am and lasting until 3:00 pm sponsored by the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association. Check-in takes place at 7:00 am and boats up to 14ft are welcome. Those with boats must check in first at the New City Little League Field first. There will be one division for adults and another for kids and entry cost is $25. Guests should bring their fishing gear to participate. Bait will be provided and there will be limited rods and reels available for loan. The adult top 3 biggest 5 bass stringer of Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) wins plus lunker wins and for the youth anglers (15 and under)the top 3 biggest 5 bass stringer of Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) wins plus lunker wins. Prizes will be given out at 3:00 pm. Additional rules and registration information can be found at https://bit.ly/LakeDeForestDayDerby

At 8:30 am there will be a Firefighter Kayak Challenge race between Rockland’s volunteer fire departments. Everyone is encouraged to come out and support their first responders in this fun race. Nanuet will be defending the cup this year. Entries can be registered by contacting Kurt Mulligan at kurt@kurtmulligan.com

Kayaking will be available from 9:30 – 11:00am and from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm and again from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm. Rentals are for 90 minutes and cost $30 per paddler. Single and double kayaks are available. Participants are also welcome to bring their own kayaks and canoes from 11:30 – 1:00 pm and from 1:30 – 3:00 pm for $30 per vessel. To register for kayak usage click here https://bit.ly/LakeDeForestDayKayak

Parking is available at New City Little League Field at 39 Strawtown Road in New City. The event is sponsored by Veolia and supported by the Town of Clarkstown.

Founded in 1997 by Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues. The group engages in a fourfold strategy of environmental action, advocacy, education and enforcement in its work to protect, preserve and restore the Hackensack River Watershed. Their ongoing efforts mean protected wetlands, cleanups of toxic sites, restored habitats, better public access, and a new appreciation for the “River of Many Bends”!