McGreevey Promotes More Protection
Governor stands
with Riverkeeper to pledge expanded protection for River, reservoirs
By Hugh M. Carola
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On a chilly March 11, more than
one hundred people joined Capt. Bill Sheehan and the staff of Hackensack
Riverkeeper on the shore of Lake Tappan to welcome Governor James E. McGreevey
and NJDEP Commissioner Brad Campbell to the Hackensack River watershed. The Governor and his entourage were on hand
to announce that the Administration would seek to reclassify Lake Tappan, Woodcliff
Lake, and the drainages of the Hackensack River, Pascack Brook and their
tributaries as Category One (C-1) waters. A C-1 designation provides the
highest level of protection possible to freshwaters within the state and until
recently had only been used to protect trout-production waters.
“Last year, Governor McGreevey
proposed a C-1 designation for the Oradell Reservoir only,” said Capt. Bill, “and
while I certainly supported that move, I also spent the last twelve months promoting
the protection of the entire upper watershed.”
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Governor McGreevey dons a Hackensack Riverkeeper hat and waves
a friendly salute after the press conference at which he announced his nominations to increase protection of the drinking water for Bergen and Hudson Counties
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According to sources within the
Administration, it was the comments submitted by Hackensack Riverkeeper and
subsequent conversations with Capt. Bill that convinced the Governor to seek
the expanded C-1 designation. Among the protections that will come into play
once the designation is adopted is a 300-foot buffer between the affected
waterways and any new development.
“We are taking the steps
necessary to protect our water resources and curb the impacts of
overdevelopment, particularly on our drinking water,” said Governor McGreevey
who directed much of his remarks to local municipalities. “In partnership with
local officials, we are fighting sprawl, steering growth to more appropriate
areas that benefit New Jersey’s communities, and protecting our overall quality
of life,” he added.
NJDEP Commissioner Brad Campbell stands among
many elected officials and environmental leaders to support the new C-1 nominations. |
“I applaud the Governor for
giving local municipalities the tools to protect their communities from the
irreparable harm caused by sprawl and the damage that additional sprawl will do
to our precious water resources,” said Capt. Bill. The Captain also praised the Governor for his leadership
regarding the recent decisions and initiatives that are opening the door for
the permanent preservation of the Meadowlands. Commissioner Campbell also
warranted kudos from the Captain “for his strong level of commitment to
providing the State of New Jersey with an open and responsive DEP and for
taking on the important issue of stormwater management.”
The Administration’s next steps
include consulting with the twenty-two municipalities that comprise the upper
watershed, implementation of the state’s Phase II Stormwater Regulations and a
series of public hearings. “We’ve always maintained that the best way to ensure
clean drinking water is to preserve forested buffers along our reservoirs and
streams,” said Capt. Bill. “It’s heartening to see that the State is finally on
board with us.”
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