The Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District is holding their annual Pond Stocking Program so that local pond owners have a convenient way to purchase healthy and affordable fish. For this fall, Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Rainbow Trout and Fathead Minnows will be offered. A fish stocking permit from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is required to stock these fish. The permit is free, and applications can be obtained from the Soil and Water Conservation District Office or directly from NYS-DEC.

The deadline for ordering the above fish species is Friday, October 13, 2023. Orders will be distributed on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Soil and Water Conservation Office at 5 Park Lane, Highland; approximately one mile east of the Village of New Paltz and four miles west of Route 9W.

The process for ordering fish and obtaining a fish stocking permit should begin as soon as possible to purchase the fish.

A fish stocking permit in hand is required at the time of fish pick-up. For order forms and more information, call the office any weekday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at (845) 883-7162 ext. 3 or visit our website at ucswcd.org.