32:20B-2 Findings, declarations relative to a bistate river commission.

2. The Legislature finds and declares that the States of New Jersey and New York and their respective citizens share a common concern to protect their personal safety and property through the identification and remediation of potential flood hazards along the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries and watersheds; that because the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries cross the interstate border region, the identification and remediation of potential flood hazards require a bistate comprehensive approach; that a bistate comprehensive flood prevention approach will also help ensure the preservation and maintenance of the environmental benefits of the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries; that a bistate approach will encourage open space preservation and recreational opportunities along the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries; and that there has been a long history of cooperation among state and local governmental entities and various private organizations and individuals in the vicinity of the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries to ensure the preservation of those water bodies and watersheds.

The Legislature therefore determines that there is a need to endorse and formalize that bistate cooperative effort to identify and remediate potential flood hazards and to protect the natural, scenic and recreational opportunities of the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River and their tributaries; and that the creation of a bistate commission is an appropriate means to accomplish these very important goals.

L.2011, c.177, s.2.