Pennsylvania unveils new plan for public fishing and boating access

Harrisburg — The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on Aug. 13 announced a new, collaborative statewide public fishing and boating access strategy.

The strategy provides a clear blueprint for state agencies and their partner organizations to follow as they develop, plan, and enhance public access opportunities in their communities.

Partners including heritage areas, watershed organizations, 501(c)3 nonprofit groups, local governments and water trail managers, can use the tools available through this strategy by visiting the Pennsylvania Fishing and Boating Access Strategy page on the commission’s website – fishandboat.com.

“Pennsylvania is rich with more than 85,000 miles of rivers and streams and 4,000 lakes that provide recreational fishing and boating opportunities, and this strategy will help make more of our natural resources accessible to everyone,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

“Communities across the commonwealth are recognizing the benefits, socially and economically, when they provide high-quality public access areas to attract more anglers and boaters.”

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Fishing and boating are extremely popular recreational activities in Pennsylvania, and an increasingly diverse population is looking for nearby access to our waterways, Dunn pointed out.

As an example, polls conducted by DCNR for the 2025-29 PA Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan indicate record levels of interest in kayaking and canoeing.

Still, many residents and visitors encounter barriers, from physical and financial challenges to social and psychological obstacles that may prevent them from using and benefiting from existing access areas, according to Mark Sweppenhiser, director of the commission’s Bureau of Boating.

“This strategy recognizes those obstacles and offers solutions for overcoming them,” he said.

“By optimizing placement for new public fishing and boating projects, prioritizing areas with limited access, building local support for access projects, and focusing on existing Water Trails, we can work alongside our partners to maximize the usability of our waterways to meet the interests of their communities.”

Public fishing and boating access projects that may benefit from this strategy include the construction of boat launches, trails for walk-in fishing access along waterways, the implementation of ADA accessible features such as parking areas and walking paths, and adaptive amenities including launching docks.

Both the Fish & Boat Commission and DCNR offer programs compatible with this strategy to assist communities in the development of new or enhanced public fishing access areas.