|
|
|
Overview
PROVIDE INPUT TO U.S. FOREST SERVICE NY-NJ HIGHLANDS REGIONAL STUDY
The U.S. Forest Service is updating its 1993 NY-NJ Highlands
Regional Study, and expanding its focus to
include the New York Highlands east of the Hudson River.
This is an opportunity to demonstrate the depth of public concern
about the Highlands. Your comments are important!
The Forest Service is looking for responses to an online survey
located at www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/nynj/highassess.pdf.
Below are some talking points for the survey responses.
Water: Approximately 25 % of New York's Highlands, roughly
125,000 acres, are part of New York City's
drinking water supply watersheds. The reservoirs that
are buffered by these wooded watershed produce high quality drinking
water for 9 million people in the New York metropolitan
area. The City's acquisition program in the
Croton Watershed System is limited, leaving many areas
vulnerable to development.
New Jersey's Highlands reservoirs provide drinking water to nearly
4 million people, half the state's population,
while nearly 3/4 million Highlands residents
depend on groundwater supplies in the region. Only a small portion
of the watershed lands feeding these reservoirs and
aquifers is permanently protected; the majority
of the watershed and aquifer areas are threatened by development.
Forests and Biodiversity: Forest fragmentation, which
destroys critical wildlife habitat, is a severe
problem in the Highlands region, although some unfragmented
areas over 2,500 acres in size remain. The region's forested ridges
are critical habitat for neotropical migratory songbirds, as well as
an outstanding raptor population of hawks and owls.
Bear, river otter, and native trout rely on
forested habitat. Forest wildlife habitat needs to be preserved
through a policy of no commercial logging.
Open Space: The Highlands Coalition has identified
"Critical Treasures" of the Highlands
in New York and New Jersey - important undeveloped lands that should
be preserved because of their watershed, forest, wildlife, recreational,
scenic and farmland values. The enclosed New Jersey Critical Treasures
list describes these areas, and provide a rough estimate of the
cost to acquire them.
Stewardship of natural resources in the Highlands A
partnership involving all levels of government, as well as the private
sector, is KEY to increasing land conservation in the
Highlands. The nationally significant Highlands
region will only be protected through a partnership
among federal, state and local interests, acting under a coordinated
regional plan. Existing programs are insufficient to meet its protection
needs. The federal government can play a key role in identifying
critical resource areas, providing technical
assistance, coordinating action across political
boundaries and providing direct acquisition support.
A proactive and flexible strategy, which leaves a great deal of
control at the state and local level and
balances conservation and economic development,
can effectively protect the Highlands region. Municipalities, counties,
states, and the federal government all have a role to play, as well
as landowners and private nonprofit groups. None should be left out.
Federal recognition of the region's importance will be key in
increasing funding from such federal programs as
the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Forest
Legacy.
For additional information:
the
Overview from the 1993 NY-NJ Highlands Regional Study. www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/nynj/nynjweb.html.
Also, check out the Highlands Coalition
website www.highlandscoalition.org
or call them at 908-234-1225.
Regional Plan Association
Region
The Highlands
Study Area runs from Reading, PA to the NY/CT line.
|
