The New York-New Jersey Highlands, or Highlands region, located in the county's eastern section is older. An extension of the Reading Prong formation stretching from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, the Highlands were created from geological forces created from when a small continent went over the North American plate. This rock created the highlands of Sussex County. Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rock approximately 500 million years ago.The Highlands Province, United States Geological Survey. Accessed August 28, 2012. The watersheds within the Highlands provide fresh water resources for millions of residents in New Jersey and the New York City Metropolitan Area.Phelps, Marcus G. and Hoppe, Martina C. (compilers). "Section 2: Resource Assessment and Conservation Values" in New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study: 2002 Update (NA-TP-02-03). (Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, December 2002). Accessed August 28, 2012. Because of this, the region was protected by the New Jersey Legislature and Governor Jim McGreevey under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act enacted in 2004.Lathrop, Richard G Jr. The Highlands: Critical Resources, Treasured Landscapes. (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rivergate Press, 2011), 307-309. This act sought to protect these water resources from development by promoting open space and farmland preservation, creating new recreational parks, and consolidating the regulatory authority over land use planning in a regional planning commission known as the Highlands Council.New Jersey State Legislature. Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly, No. 2635 . (Trenton, New Jersey: State of New Jersey, 2004). Accessed August 28, 2012.Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, New Jersey Statutes Annotated, N.J.S.A. 13:20–1 et seq.; 13:1D-1 et seq.; 13:1B-16.128 et seq.; 13:9B-1 et seq.; 23:2A-1 et seq.; 58:1A-1 et seq.; 58:10A-1 et seq.; 58:11–23 et seq.; 58:11A-1 et seq.; 58:12A-1 et seq.; 58:16A-50 et seq; and New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C. 7:38 et seq.
The New York-New Jersey Highlands, or Highlands region, located in the county's eastern section is older. An extension of the Reading Prong formation stretching from Pennsylvania to Connecticut the Highlands were created from geological forces created from when a small continent went over the North American plate. This rock created the highlands of Sussex County. Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rock approximately 500 million years ago.The Highlands Province, United States Geological Survey. Accessed August 28, 2012. The watersheds within the Highlands provide fresh water resources for millions of residents in New Jersey and the New York City Metropolitan Area.Phelps, Marcus G and Hoppe, Martina C. (compilers). "Section 2: Resource Assessment and Conservation Values" in New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study: 2002 Update (NA-TP-02-03). (Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, December 2002). Accessed August 28, 2012. Because of this, the region was protected by the New Jersey Legislature and Governor Jim McGreevey under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act enacted in 2004.Lathrop, Richard G Jr. The Highlands: Critical Resources, Treasured Landscapes. (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rivergate Press, 2011), 307-309. This act sought to protect these water resources from development by promoting open space and farmland preservation, creating new recreational parks, and consolidating the regulatory authority over land use planning in a regional planning commission known as the Highlands Council.New Jersey State Legislature. Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly, No. 2635 . (Trenton, New Jersey: State of New Jersey, 2004). Accessed August 28, 2012.Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, New Jersey Statutes Annotated, N.J.S.A. 13:20–1 et seq.; 13:1D-1 et seq.; 13:1B-16.128 et seq.; 13:9B-1 et seq.; 23:2A-1 et seq.; 58:1A-1 et seq.; 58:10A-1 et seq.; 58:11–23 et seq.; 58:11A-1 et seq.; 58:12A-1 et seq.; 58:16A-50 et seq; and New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C. 7:38 et seq.