We Are All Stakeholders in the Highlands Regional Master Plan

URWA has been closely monitoring the progress of the Highlands Council to develop and implement the Highlands Regional Master Plan since the Council was created.  82% of the Upper Raritan watershed is in the Highlands region – 27% in the Preservation Area and 55% in the Planning Area. 17 of our 19 Highlands municipalities are either completely or partially in the Planning area.

Over the last several years we've reviewed many, many reports and made recommendations to strengthen policies and encourage actions that we believe will provide the best protection for the precious water and other natural resources of the Highlands region.  Earlier this month, we made the following observations to the NJ DEP when it held a Highlands Stakeholders meeting:  

• URWA wants to see as much authority as possible given to the Highlands Council.
• We strongly support the current 88 and 25 acre zoning.
• We want all Water Quality Management Plans in the Planning Area to be reviewed by the Council.
• We look forward to land values in the Highlands increasing in value, just as protected land in the Pinelands has.

It is in the best interest of all new Jerseyans to support the Highlands Regional Master Plan and work with the Highlands Council to strengthen the Plan. We all depend on clean water resources for our homes, industry, and agriculture; therefore we each rely on the success of this Plan.