Parking lot is not what aquifer needs

Letter in The Record, May 5, 2008

"Ramapo an 'integral part' of our water supply" (Page L-1, April 26) emphasizes the need to protect the fragile Ramapo River watershed, a sole-source aquifer that supplies drinking water for more than 2 million New Jerseyans.

However, just two days after this appeared, the Mahwah Planning Board voted 5-3 to turn an expanse of woodlands at the foot of Stag Hill Road, just 300 feet from the river and in close proximity to three wells, into a 760-space parking lot. Perhaps the five who voted yes did not read the article. Clearly they did not heed the pleas of residents and environmentalists to save these woodlands.

More than 200 trees will be cut down, with negative impact on wildlife and water. The huge impervious parking lot will cause surface water runoff with increased amounts of oil, sludge, car drippings and other contaminants to further degrade water resources.

The last thing this watershed needs is more inappropriate development, more impervious surfaces, more runoff and more non-point-source pollution.

In the past, Mahwah has demonstrated its concern for the health of this aquifer. Large tracts in this area have been preserved through Green Acres and other open space funding. Had the Planning Board continued in that tradition and voted differently, it could have added this parcel to those lands to maintain a critically important watershed buffer.

Mary Ellen Shaw and Betsy Kohn
Hackensack and Fort Lee