Highlands NJ Highlands Fast Facts Series #1 water supply and quality www.njhighlandscoalition.org Water Supply Water Quality People who live in and outside the People, plants, animals and aquatic life Highlands are dependent on Highlands all depend on the quality of water for water. survival. •Many Highlands residents get their If we are not careful to build in a manner drinking water from rainwater that that protects our water quality, our lakes, filters through the ground into wells. streams, rivers and wells will suffer and so Development shrinks the amount of will we. land available to recharge the Stormwater runoff from paved and groundwater supply. developed land increases •Millions of people outside the Highlands erosion and flooding and depend on surface water from its carries pesticides and reservoirs, rivers and streams as the other pollutants into our source of their water supply. water supply. Angler, Speedwell Lake, Morristown PHOTO COURTESY MORRIS LAND CONSERVANCY Highlands NJ Highlands Fast Facts Series #2 critical treasures www.njhighlandscoalition.org In 2005, the Highlands Coalition listed the following in its report “The Highlands: Our Backyard Paradise” as Critical Treasures of the Highlands. Ensuring that these areas are protected helps secure our drinking water, clean air, critical wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. While portions have been protected, others remain at risk.

• Farny Highlands (Morris Co.) • Valley • Sparta Mountain Greenway • Hamburg Mountain (Sussex Co.) (Sussex & Warren Co.) (Sussex & Morris Co.) • • Pohatcong Creek Valley (Warren Co.) • Upper Passaic River Headwaters (Hunterdon Co.) • Pohatcong Grasslands (Warren Co.) (Morris & Somerset Co.) • Valley • (Warren Co.) • Upper South Branch Raritan River Watershed (Hunterdon & Morris Co.) (Hunterdon, Morris & Warren Co.) • and Ramapo River • North Branch Raritan River Watershed Watershed (Bergen & Passaic Co.) • Wallkill River Valley (Sussex Co.) (Hunterdon, Morris & Somerset Co.) • Rockaway River Watershed • Pequannock Watershed (Morris & Sussex Co.) • Wyanokie Highlands/ Wanaque Watershed (Passaic, Sussex & Morris Co.) • Schooley’s Mountain (Morris Co.) (Passaic Co.) • (Warren Co.) Highlands NJ Highlands Fast Facts Series #3 threatened critters here are many species listed as endangered or Can you name ten endangered critters that threatened by the federal and state agencies. Many can be found in the New Jersey Highlands? T of these birds, animals and fish are threatened because Just unscramble the words below: ______dowo telrtu BARRED OWL / JOHN REED their habitat is being taken away. Preserving large ______uleb optsdte msanlraead tracts of land and forests in the Highlands is important to the birds ______yrpeso and animals that require those spaces in order to survive. ______bmreit atlskateerln Protecting our water quality by keeping out pollutants and by main- ______proscoes kwha taining appropriate water levels and temperatures is important to the ______lvrise dorerbed rtitryfria survival of fish, invertebrates and amphibians that live ______gbo rutetl ______uble rneoh in Highlands waters. These creatures form the founda- ______rdbera wlo tion of the food chain that all living things depend on. ______rthneor wgaskoh The presence of threatened and endangered species is indicative of clean water. Answers: Highlands NJ Highlands Fast Facts Series #4 farming www.njhighlandscoalition.org Farming is a way of life for many in the Farm Facts • Join a CSA – community supported New Jersey Highlands. The state and local • 118,000 – acres of agricultural land agriculture, and contract for a share governments recognize the benefits agri- in the New Jersey Highlands in 2002 of the produce; www.nofanj.org; culture adds to the economy and to quality • 33,651 – acres preserved since 1983 www.localharvest.org of life, but agricultural viability remains at • 27,500 – acres lost to other uses • Pick Your Own – fruits, vegetables; risk due to high operating costs and 1986–2002 www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh; development pressures. Support Local Farms • Cut Your Own – Christmas trees; • Buy Local, Buy Fresh – at roadside www.njchristmastrees.org stands and community farmers • Plant Your Own – Jersey Grown markets; see www.state.nj.us/ flowers, shrubs, trees; jerseyfresh; www.buyfreshnwj.org www.state.nj.us/ • Buy Organic – visit the Northeast jerseygrown Organic Farming Association of New • Take a Farm Tour – Jersey’s website at www.nofanj.org www.visitnjfarms.org PHOTO COURTESY MORRIS LAND CONSERVANCY Highlands NJ Highlands Fast Facts Series #5 outdoor activities The preserved areas of the New Jersey Highlands offer many opportunities for adventure and for appreciation of their scenic beauty. These areas include national, state and county parks, land around reservoirs such as Spruce Run and Merrill Creek, the scenic Musconetcong and other rivers and streams, wildlife refuges and back roads. Listed below are some activities you can enjoy and examples of places where you can enjoy them. For more information, visit www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests, www.njhighlandscoalition.org and county park web sites. Birdwatching Canoeing/Kayaking Fishing •Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge •Wallkill River •Merrill Creek Reservoir •Mahlon Dickerson Reservation •Musconetcong River •Ken Lockwood Gorge

Boating/Windsurfing Cycling Hiking/Cross Country PHOTO COURTESY WILMA E. FREY •Hopatcong State Park •Round Valley Recreation Area Skiing/Snowshoeing •Spruce Run Recreation Area •Wawayanda State Park •Highlands Trail Camping Downhill Skiing •Appalachian Trail •Jenny Jump State Forest •Campgaw Mountain Horseback Riding •Ramapo Valley Reservation •Hidden Valley •Seaton Hackney (stables) •Voorhees State Park • State Park Highlands NJ Highlands Fast Facts Series #6 historical heritage www.njhighlandscoalition.org Highlands history is all about IRON. • Transportation moved people, goods, Historic roads: Sussex Turnpike, • Mining started before the Revolution. iron ore. Routes 46, 23, 24, 206 Forests were burned for charcoal. Visit: Morris Canal sites: Waterloo, Railroad stations: Morristown, Washington’s ammunition came from Roxbury, Wharton, Warren Co. Netcong, Dover, Mountain Lakes Highlands iron. Rivers: Musconetcong, • Manufacturing & business created Visit: Ford-Faesch House & miners’ Whippany, Raritan wealth. church, Rockaway Township Visit: Cooper Mill, Chester Township Washington’s Headquarters, Historic Speedwell, Morristown Morristown Factories: Boonton, Dover, Long Pond Iron Works & Wharton, Whippany, Andover Ringwood Manor, New Milford • Lake colonies brought Oxford summer visitors. • Towns & farms grew on cleared land to Visit: Lake Hopatcong, support miners and new settlers. JACK FAGAN, NY-NJ TRAIL CONFERENCE Budd Lake, Visit: Boonton, Wharton, Andover, Indian Lake,

Netcong Hasenclever Furnace, Long Pond Ironworks Cranberry Lake