Land for water

Regarding your Oct. 30 editorial "Safe water," the General Assembly and the Land and Water Conservation Commission may have the largest impact on the success of the public-private efforts to protect water quality in the Neuse River Basin.

The General Assembly has charged the commission with making recommendations to the 2007 session on how to significantly increase funding for protecting critical water resources, natural areas and historic places through land acquisition. The legislature was responding to numerous reports showing an alarming rate of land conversion, with no letup in sight.

A portion of any increase in land and water conservation funds will reach the Triangle region, one of the fastest-growing in the country. But similar challenges are being faced throughout our state. From along coastal waterways to mountain streamsides, the thirst for land in close proximity to water is growing by the day.

Consequently, we have a narrow window of opportunity to acquire the lands that can make a real difference for the long-term health of our water supplies and our quality of life.

I look forward to following the commission to its final recommendations and fully support its efforts in making North Carolina a better place for us all. The next meeting of the commission will be in Raleigh on Thursday. More information can be found at www.landfortomorrow.org

Sig Hutchinson

Raleigh