This layer represents water resource priorities in the Highlands region. This layer is intended to inform grant proposals for the Highlands Conservation Act. The Highlands Conservation Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to the States of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania (Highland States) to preserve and protect high priority conservation land in the Highlands region.This layer ranges from 0-6, with 6 being the highest priority for water preservation in the Highlands region. The layer prioritizes areas important for drinking water using USGS Principal Aquifers, classes Carbonate-rock, Sandstone and carbonate-rock, and Sandstone/Semiconsolidated sandstone ranked 1, 2, and 3 respectively and waterbodies from NHD, NWI, and TNC’s Active River Areas ranked 1 each. NHD and NWI waterbodies include 330 feet buffered areas.
