New Jersey Highlands: Water, Wildlife and Wilderness Face Development Threats

Monksville Reservoir, Ringwood  (photo/Jan Barry)

By Eileen McCafferty

Do you know where your water comes from? Do you know the threats made towards your water every day? Do you know who is protecting your water? Chances are you have answered at least one or more of these questions with a “no.”

For over six million citizens who live in sixteen counties in New Jersey, they rely on the New Jersey Highlands for their water supply…and they are unaware of the relentless threats the Highlands face. They are also unaware of the people who work tirelessly in order to save the land that provides them with this basic necessity. It is crucial that these threats be taken seriously since water is essential for survival and there is no downplaying that fact.

The New Jersey Highlands is an 860,000-acre area that’s part of an Appalachian mountain  region stretching from Connecticut to Pennsylvania known as the Highlands. It consists of farmlands, forests, small towns, some commercial areas and a huge variety of wildlife and plant life. Drinking water provided to millions of people from Vernon to south of Trenton comes from Highlands streams and reservoirs.

But new development constantly threatens the water supply, wildlife and all over greatness of the area. Population size is increasing, which is making for wider areas needed to house all these people. Also with more people comes more developed areas to install grocery stores, schools, and shopping complexes. Unfortunately, some of these plans for development are not well thought out and create contamination or destroy forests that filter rainwater.

Besides the water supply, many creatures call these forests their home. Many people also enjoy these woods for leisurely pleasures and it would be a shame to shut these enjoyable places down to develop a shopping complex.

Forests reduce flooding 

Exploring the threat to water, it is important to know that when roads are developed, water no longer finds its natural path to sink into the ground, in turn reducing the supply of water that reaches wells and reservoirs. Not only does this create an issue for homes, but this is also an economic crisis. There is more flooding that comes from over development and with flooding comes damage. Many more people in and around the New Jersey Highlands would face flooding damages if they were to rip out all of the trees and vegetation that helps the rainwater be absorbed by the ground. With nothing to block the water, floods are more likely to happen. 

When we think about building homes, many of us do not think that us building homes causes other creatures lose their homes. Due to the over destruction of the Highlands, creatures like the elusive Bobcat have been put on the New Jersey Endangered Species list.

Another loss that comes with the development threats is when farmland is lost. Many people in the area of the Highlands rely on farming in order to provide for their families, and many other citizens rely on that farm production for their food. Over development destroys the security of farmers to provide for their families and other families in the area.

Highlands conservation network 

So who is going to protect this land that millions of people and millions of creatures rely on for life? That’s where the New Jersey Highlands Coalition steps in. This non-profit group, based in Boonton, is made up of dedicated individuals, civic groups and conservation organizations who aim to keep the Highlands protected and the water supply safe for future consumption by area citizens and businesses.

Keeping track of state environmental regulations, regulatory oversight by various agencies, and development proposals, the Coalition does various actions to help safeguard the water supply and biodiversity of the Highlands. They create public education projects in order to bring about awareness for this resource for millions of people. The New Jersey Highlands Coalition also assists local, state, and federal government to raise money for preserving key parcels of forest and farmlands in the Highlands region. The Coalition gives their research findings and opinions to law makers, the New Jersey Highlands Regional Council and other important government officials who decide what happens to the Highlands.

The next time you turn on the water tap, think about this: where does the water come from? Chances are, if you’re north of the Jersey Shore, it comes from the Highlands. 

Eileen McCafferty is a senior majoring in environmental studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey.