Highlands Task Force Public Hearing - Jan 20

December 29, 2003

Trenton - Governor James E. McGreevey announced today that the Highlands Task Force will hold its second public hearing on Tuesday, January 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hall of Heroes in the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute, 281 Campgaw Road in Mahwah.

The Governor also invited the public to participate in the Task Force's online survey to provide suggestions on how best to preserve open space and drinking water in this critical region.

"We cannot assume that the Highlands, with all of its drinking water, open space and farmland, will be here for our children," said McGreevey. "Now more than ever, it is of vital importance that we do all we can to save the Highlands from development. We ask that the public share its thoughts and ideas with us anytime at http://www.savethehighlands.org. Whether it's online or at the next public forum, we must work together to save this region."

Directions to the meeting can be obtained at http://www.savethehighlands.org/phdirections_hoh.htm.

The Governor established the Highlands Task Force in September, with a charge of advancing conservation efforts and comprehensively reviewing measures that encourage land acquisition, regional planning and smart growth.

The Highlands, a 1,000 square mile area in the Northwest part of New Jersey, are a vital source of drinking water for more than half of New Jersey's families. The region yields approximately 379 million gallons of water daily. However, the region's drinking water sources and open space have been threatened by new development.

"Between 1995 and 2000, sprawl consumed 17,000 acres of forests and 8,000 acres of farmland in the Highlands. As a vital source of drinking water for more than half of New Jersey's families, we must shield the Highlands from overdevelopment," said McGreevey.

The Governor has made protecting open space and drinking water in the Highlands a top priority. In his less than two years in office, the Governor has preserved 50 farms-4,589 acres of farmland in the Highlands, protected nearly 17,000 acres of open space in and around the Highlands, and applied C1 designation to seven waterbodies in the region. In November, voters also approved Public Question No. 1, which will provide $150 million toward the purchase of open space and farms in the Highlands region, and throughout the State.

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Contact: Micah Rasmussen, 609-777-2600

State of New Jersey Governor's Office
POB 004
Trenton, NJ 08625

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