Watershed Permits

Permits are required for some activities in DCR's drinking water supply reservoirs and watersheds.

The DCR watershed system supplies drinking water to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority to treat and distribute to over 3 million people. To protect the quality of our water, as well as the watersheds' other natural and cultural resources, you'll need a permit for a variety of activities, such as fishing, hunting and boating, as well as large group gatherings.

Quabbin Reservoir Watershed

• Quabbin Reservoir Watershed Group Access Permit application
  The Group Access Permit application is an on-line form.
• Quabbin Vehicular Access/Short-term Access Permit application
  The Vehicular Access/Short-term Access Permit application is an on-line form.
• Quabbin Fishing Season Parking Pass
  Information about the Quabbin Fishing Season Parking Pass is posted on the Quabbin Fishing Guide website. 
• Quabbin Boat Rental Application
• Quabbin Boat Rental Application in Spanish
• Quabbin Reservoir Night Access Permit application
  The Night Access Permit application is an on-line form. It is only available during the fishing season.
• DCR DWSP Hunting and Trapping Access Permits
• Quabbin Reservoir Watershed Deer Hunt Off-Reservation Vehicle Access Permit
  The Off-Reservation Vehicle Access Permit is an on-line application (available in September). 
• Watershed Research Permit application
  Click here to apply for a permit to perform research on Division of Water Supply Protection property.  Online applications only - no paper copies will be accepted.  The online form allows DCR to develop a searchable database of research permits.

For more information or to submit Quabbin Reservoir permit applications, contact:

   Department of Conservation and Recreation
   Division of Water Supply Protection
   Quabbin Reservoir and Ware River Region
   485 Ware Road
   Belchertown, MA 01007
   [phone]
   [e-mail]

Ware River Watershed

• Ware River Group Access Permit application
  The Group Access Permit application is an on-line form.
• Ware River Vehicular Access/Short-term Access Permit application
  The Vehicular Access/Short-term Access Permit application is an on-line form.
• Ware River Watershed Assembly permit application (weddings)
• Long Pond Boat Permit Application (on-line application only - there is no in-person or US mail application). 
  The application period for 2025 is now closed. The application for the 2025 season was available from April 1 to April 30, 2025.
  Only 50 permits will be issued in 2025.  More than 50 applications have been received, so DCR will conduct a random lottery to select the permits. Applicants will be notified of lottery details and additional information will be posted on this website.
• Watershed Research Permit application
  Click here to apply for a permit to perform research on Division of Water Supply Protection property.  Online applications only - no paper copies will be accepted.  The online form allows DCR to develop a searchable database of research permits.
• DCR DWSP Hunting and Trapping Access Permits

For more information or to submit Ware River Watershed  permit applications, contact:

   Department of Conservation and Recreation
   Division of Water Supply Protection
   Quabbin Reservoir and Ware River Region
   485 Ware Road
   Belchertown, MA 01007
   [phone]
   [e-mail]

Wachusett and Sudbury Reservoir Watersheds

• Group Access to Wachusett Reservoir Watershed permit application
• Group Access to Poutwater Pond Nature Preserve permit application
• DCR DWSP Hunting and Trapping Access Permits
• Watershed Research Permit application 
• Click here to apply for a permit to perform research on Division of Water Supply Protection property.  Online applications only - no paper copies will be accepted.  The online form allows DCR to develop a searchable database of research permits.

For more information or to submit Wachusett and Sudbury permit applications, contact:

   Department of Conservation and Recreation
   Division of Water Supply Protection
   Wachusett/Sudbury Region
   180 Beaman St.
   West Boylston, MA 01583
   [phone]

Interactive Public Access Map

The Division of Water Supply Protection has developed an interactive map with detailed information about public access roads and trails, fishing, and hunting in the Quabbin Reservoir, Ware River, Wachusett Reservoir, and Sudbury Reservoir watersheds.  There are two ways to access this map: one is an online program that is accessible from your desktop computer or mobile device’s web browser; the other is through an App you can download directly to your mobile device and use in the field.  The mobile device App is recommended for use in the field.

Click here to directly access the on-line DCR-DWSP Public Access Maps. 

Please see the Instructions for using DCR Division of Water Supply Protections Public Access Maps in ArcGIS Field Maps for information about the mobile app.

Fishing and Hunting Permits

Licenses from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife are required for fishing and hunting on DCR/DWSP land.