Welcome to the RegionBuilder Website

Welcome to H20: the Highlands to Ocean Region

The Indicators

14 Indicators were selected for the H2O: Highlands to Ocean – A First Look at the Landscapes and Waterscapes of the New York /New Jersey Metropolitan Area (click here to download the book). In 2006, a group of students at the City College of New York took on the task of updating the indicators. Below are a sampling of the results of this research- click images for the powerpoints to load.

Please note: we are still in the process of accurately sourcing our work contained in the following powerpoint presentations- source info will follow shortly.

Water

1. Water Quality

Land

8. The Hudson Highlands

2. Wetlands

9. The Black Bear

The fragile condition of black bear habitat in the most densely populated region of the United States makes for a challenging interplay between bears and humans. The black bear provides a clear measure of the balance between conservation and development of land in the "Highlands to Oceans" region; and brings the role of humans to the forefront as environmental stewards or squanderers.

3. Droughts & Floods

In recent years, there has been an increase in the occurrence of floods and droughts at the same time as the increasing phenomena of global climate change. Billions of dollars have been spent in attempts to rebuild damaged businesses, homes and agriculture in the process. What can we do as developers, city planners, landscape architects and citizens of the H2O region to deal with these issues?

Coming Soon!

10. Bog Turtles

Coming Soon!

4. Sturgeon