NJWSA and the New Jersey Highlands Council

The New Jersey Water Supply Authority was formed in 1981 as a state agency to own and operate the State’s water supply facilities (Round Valley Reservoir, Spruce Run Reservoir, and Delaware & Raritan Canal) in the Raritan Basin.  In 1999, the Authority added a new function – protection of the source waters for those water supplies – and has been actively involved in watershed assessments, planning and project implementation ever since.  In 2004, the NJ Highlands Council was formed as a state agency to protect water resources and other environmental features in the Highlands, part of which is in the Raritan Basin, through a Regional Master Plan that is mandatory in a core “Preservation Area” and voluntary within the remainder of Highlands municipalities (the Planning Area).  Given the complementary missions of the two agencies and the broad expertise at the Authority in watershed protection, the next step was not surprising.  The boards of the two agencies recently approved a Memorandum of Agreement, where the Authority will provide technical and planning assistance to the Council in 2005 and 2006, as the Council develops its Regional Master Plan.  Dan Van Abs, Director of Watershed Protection at the Authority, will serve as the Authority’s lead liaison to the Council.

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