The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced August 15, the adoption of new regulations designed to improve public safety at Kaaterskill Falls, as well as three nearby areas that have experienced a substantial increase in public use in recent years. Seggos said in a press release the falls are an "increasingly popular destination" and the newly adopted regulations are intended to improve both safety and accessibility "without sacrificing its natural qualities." The newly adopted regulations impact all or parts of four areas; the Kaaterskill Falls Riparian Area in the town of Hunter, the Kaaterskill Clove Riparian Corridor in the towns of Hunter and Catskill, the Platte Clove Riparian Corridor in the towns of Hunter and Saugerties, and the Colgate Lake Wild Forest Area in the town of Jewett. Effective immediately, in all four areas, camp fires and portable stoves are banned; glass containers and the possession of alcohol are prohibited; the use of audio devices without the use of headphones or ear buds is forbidden; and, the public is barred from entering restricted areas, as designated by signage. At Kaaterskill Falls, specifically, the public is not allowed to be within six feet of cliff edges, except on marked trails, and prohibited from entering the water within 150 feet upstream of the falls. Read the full list of new regulations at DEC [dot] NY [dot] gov.