Visioning the Upper Delaware River Corridor

Conservation vs. preservation

By LORI McKEAN, director, The Eagle Institute

Perhaps the best thing that can be said about the visioning process for the Upper Delaware corridor is that there is a visioning process. Fifteen or 20 years ago, little was happening in our towns with regard to growth, or development, or a population boom. But in recent years we’ve seen interest in this region flourish and the result has been unprecedented growth—and speculation for even more growth—like we’ve never seen before.

While some welcome this activity, others wish it would just go away. Then there are those, like me, who want both. I’m often asked what my vision for the Upper Delaware is. As founder and director of the Eagle Institute, the non-profit group concerned with protection of the eagle and conservation of its habitat, I have serious concerns about what unchecked growth could do to the region’s natural resources. As a proponent of economic development, I want to see our existing businesses thrive and I welcome commercial growth. As an urban transplant, I want to see more accessible cultural opportunities and artistic endeavors. As the mother of three active children, I want to see social and academic opportunities expand.

So how do we accomplish all this? Those who want to see growth (like me) have good reasons. Those who want to keep things low-key and quiet (like me) also have good reason. Neither is right nor wrong. The real challenge lies not with whether we stop or encourage growth, but how we respond to it in a way that satisfies both arguments.

Perhaps now is a good time for the visioning process to differentiate between two types of planning: conservation and preservation. The difference between the two is often not understood. Preservation is what we do when we want to keep things intact and unimpaired. Examples include historic sites and irreplaceable natural and man-made resources. Conservation is—and has been since its introduction in this nation a century ago—the wise use of the resource. Examples include the practice of forestry, and fishing, and hunting. Conservation allows us to enjoy the resource today and ensure that it is still there for future generations. Conservation allows us to use a resource (who doesn’t like wood furniture or need paper?) without depleting or destroying it.

The visioning process for the Upper Delaware must embrace conservation in order to be successful. Commercial development, increased housing, population growth can all be accomplished as long as we wisely use our resources in the process. We can cut trees to build new homes as long as we cut selectively and then replant. We can promote economic development as long as we don’t pollute the river or its tributaries with discharges and runoff. We can welcome an influx of new neighbors as long as we don’t destroy or fragment wildlife habitat. And so on.

Conservation was a term introduced at the turn of the 20th century and it helped shape how we’ve used—and saved—our natural resources for the past hundred years. Smart growth, cluster development, greenways and byways are all 21st century terms (that means the same thing today). Let’s use these tools wisely.

[Editor’s note: After 90 or so “From Afar” columns in over three  years, John Hutzky has decided that he has said all he has to say. TRR wishes John all the best in his future endeavors.

For the next while, this space will be used to promote the discussion about a common vision for the Upper Delaware. The newspaper welcomes contributions from its readers.]