Sourlands’ Survival Depends on Curbing Development, Protecting Habitat
Studies Document Unique Natural Resources, Fragile Water Supply

The Sourland Mountain Region’s natural resources, especially the fragile drinking water supply and its unique ecosystem, need to be properly managed and protection or else they will be destroyed.  That’s the message easily derived from reports completed as part of the Sourlands smart growth regional planning project.

A natural resources inventory that characterizes the region, and a hydrogeology report that assesses groundwater resources, were prepared and several other studies are well under way.  All area residents and businesses depend on our underground water supply, also called the aquifer.

Since the first step in protecting and preserving significant environmental resources is identifying them, the inventory provides an authoritative research study that will serve the Sourland Planning Council and the region’s counties and municipalities and nonprofit partners as a foundation for further protection and preservation of the Sourlands.

Banisch Associates Inc., a professional planning firm, prepared the natural resources inventory.  Matthew J. Mulhall and Peter Demicco, professional geologists, prepared the groundwater resources report.

Both reports were funded with a smart growth grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Office of Smart Growth.  The grant is administered by East Amwell Township.  The Sourland Planning Council serves as a facilitator of the project, with participation by officials from three counties (Hunterdon, Mercer and Somerset) and municipalities in the Sourlands.

Other work is under way – a build-out analysis; a comparison of state, county and municipal plans and ordinances; and an open space and conservation plan.  Check back here for updates on this exciting and important initiative to Save the Sourlands!

Click here to read the full text of the
Sourland Mountain Region natural resource inventory.
  

 Click here to read the full text of the groundwater resources report.