Resolve, To Preserve the Saco River
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1034
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: MUSE, HASTINGS, CRESSEY

Legislative Document 
No. 1034 
H.P.752 
House of Representatives, March 6, 2007 
Resolve, To Preserve the Saco River 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative MUSE of Fryeburg. 
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1?7.11!dC~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Senator HASTINGS of Oxford and Representative: CRESSEY of Cornish. 
Printt:d on reqded paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Saco River flows through several municipalities and recreational use 
of the river has increased dramatically in the past decade; and 
Whereas, a consistent approach to managing recreational use of the river is essential 
to maintaining the quality of the experience for users, as well as resolving conflicts 
between recreational users and owners of property adjacent to the river; and 
Whereas, implementing a plan for appropriately managing recreational use of the 
river and providing law enforcement, sanitation and emergency services is essential; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. 
Development of recreation management plan for Saco River. 
Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of 
Conservation, referred to in this resolve as "the director," shall, with assistance from the 
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, develop a plan to manage that portion of 
the Saco River between the New Hampshire border at Balch Pond and the Hiram Dam in 
the Town of Hiram as a recreational waterway of statewide significance. 
For the 
purposes of this resolve, this portion of the river is referred to as "the Upper Saco River 
Recreation Corridor" and includes the river and lands adjacent to the river as specified in 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 953. 
The director shall gather information on various approaches to address issues 
including, but not limited to, boating safety, law enforcement, environmental impact of 
recreational uses, conflicts among recreational users and the degradation of public and 
private property within the corridor. The director shall seek an approach that provides for 
consistent management throughout the Upper Saco River Recreation Corridor. 
The 
director shall consider potential effects of various approaches on local and regional 
economies. 
The director shall contact the New Hampshire Department of Resources and 
Economic Development, Division of Parks and Recreation. The director shall invite one 
or more representatives from New Hampshire to join in examining the management of 
the Upper Delaware River as a federally designated Scenic and Recreational River and 
assess the benefits and drawbacks to such a designation; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Working group. Resolved: That the director shall convene a working 
group, including, but not limited to, representatives of the following: 
1. The Saco River Corridor Commission; 
2. The Saco River Recreational Council; 
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3. The Nature Conservancy; 
4. Municipal officials or citizens designated by municipal officials from the towns of 
Hiram, Brownfield, Denmark and Fryeburg; 
5. Law enforcement; 
6. Owners of campgrounds within the Upper Saco River Recreation Corridor; and 
7. 
Citizens who own land and reside within the Upper Saco River Recreation 
Corridor. 
The director shall seek the advice of the working group and develop a management 
plan for the Upper Saco River Recreation Corridor in consultation with the working 
group; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Recommendations and report; funding. Resolved: That the director 
shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over public lands no later than December 15, 2007. 
The report must include 
recommendations on the appropriate agencies or entities to implement a recreation 
management plan and enforce rules along the Upper Saco River Corridor. The report 
must contain recommendations for a budget to support administrative and enforcement 
activities. No later than December 15, 2007, the Commissioner of Conservation shall 
submit any legislation necessary to implement recommendations contained in the report. 
The director shall seek funding from the land and water conservation fund under 16 
United States Code, Section 4601-11, funds administered by the Director of Conservation, 
Bureau of Parks and Lands under Title 12, section 1825 and other private and public 
sources considered appropriate by the director for finalizing and implementing a 
comprehensive recreation management plan for the Upper Saco River Recreation 
Corridor. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited In the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the 
Department of Conservation to develop a plan for consistent management of recreation 
on the Saco River from the New Hampshire border to Hiram Dam. 
The Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands is required to report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public lands no later than 
December 15, 2007. 
The Commissioner of Conservation is directed to submit any 
legislation necessary to implement the report's recommendations. 
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