WSPC04680

• File Number: 8040.950
• Description: Section D General Studies-General Water Studies
• Date: 11/23/1983
• Title: Report on River Conservation Programs in the 50 States-Working Draft-Prepared for National Association of State River Conservation Programs
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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MAIl"E;

Maine c'oes not h2ve a leqislatively authorized state rivE'rs prcqrafl'.
Le<Jislaticn was preparerJ once hut was defeate<'l. Pnwever, it was one of the
earliest states to becol"€ involved in st:reaP1 preser<1ation whe!", in 1Q6f" the
State Leqislature approl?e<J t~'lP estahlishrr:ent of thE' 95-JT1Ue Al),aaash lNilcE'rness
waterway, In 1970, the A,llaoasb \<laterway [1€carre the first aUN>rnatorial
nominated addition to the National wiln ann pcenic :Rivers System.

.'

In 1973, the "tate Legislature establishe<1 the Saco piver c:orrinor ano an
anministerinq Commission made up of ene rrer-ter of each ~'nicip?lity ~Tose
. jurisnicticn is encompassed by the Corridor. The co~ission adl'1inisters a
leaislatively-approved zonin0- ordipa!"ce ~esiqnec' to prevent development in
Pesource Protection Districts and to allew <'evelopP1ent in f.imited :Residential or
General Development zones.

In 1981, the State received 7,000 acres of conservati0n easements along the
West and East Branchp.s of the Penobscott !liver (an original StLl<1y river unc'er
the 1968 pational wild ann pcenic piver Act). The Depar~ent of ronservation
will manaqe recreation use and facilities accorring to an aqreement with the
donatina landowner. Easements from other lando"mers will bE: sought.

:RivE'rs in the unorqanized area of ~ajne (about 4' percent of the State)
recei'Te some dearee of Protection through thf' plannina and zoninq
resPJnsibilities of the State Lann ['se Pegulation Cc=ission (IPPC) , land
borderina rivers con be zoned a special protf'ction sub-<'listrict prohibitinc any
structural development from 100 to 250 fp.et of the "'atf'r's ed'lP. 'T'iJl'ber
rranaqement and harvesting are a1l0wen accordina to u!pr standarrs, ,"everal
rivers bave received this protec~ion sub-district zonina.

Several other river stu<'lies have been c'onp., and two arp rresently uncerwav
(funde" through IAl'iCCN). Maine is also cooJ:eratina wi~ the pivers Prngram of
the National Park Service to conduct a state.Tide inventorv of rivpr rprreation
resources.

CONTACT: Mr. Thorrds J. ~ieslinski
Environmental Resour~e Planner
Dept. rf ronservation
State Pouse Station 19
AuaustaT ME 04333
[phone]

BIBLIC>-FAPHY

1. The Saen River rorridor: The View froro tbe 'Tallev, The Saco River
Environmer.tal Advisory Committee, April, '073,FP.39,

2. "aco River rorridor Act, rhapter 150, P & " law, July, 1973,~p,21,

3, ~tate of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreline Zcnin0 Ordinances, State
Planning nffice, necerocer, 1973, po.lh

4, Machias piver "Tatershed Studv. Bureau of PubliC" rands, I''€rartIl'pnt of
Conservation. April, 1974, qp.196.

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