An Act to Enhance State Oversight ofWatei Use and Water Resources
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1441
Committee Amendment CA_A_H175 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §352

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT '/"t" to HP 937, L D 1441, "An Act to Enhance 
State Oversight ofWatei Use and Water Resources" 
Amend the bill m section 5 m paiagraph F m the last 3 lmes (page 2, lmes 16 to 18 m 
L D ) by stnkmg out the following: "areas where there 1s low flow and occurrences of low 
flow For the purposes of this paragraph, "low flow" means the flow of water m a stream 
is low due to prolonged dty weather" and msertmg the followmg 'm-stream flows and lake 
or pond water levels sub1ect to watei use requirements established by the Board of 
Environmental Protection under Title 38, section 470-H' 
Amend the bill by stnkmg out all of section 6 and msertmg the following 
'Sec. 6. 7 MRSA §352, sub-§8 is enacted to read 
8. Report. Begmnmg January 15, 2024, and annually theieaftei, the board shall 
submit a report to the tomt standmg committee of the Legislature havmg mnsd1ct1on over 
agriculture, conservation and forestry matters The report must mclude a summaiy of the 
boaid's activities during the p1ior calendar year and any findings and 1ecommendat1ons, 
mcluding any suggested leg1slat10n, relatmg to the board's duties under subsect10ns 2 and 
After rev1ewmg the report, the 10mt standmg com1mttee may 1eport out leg1slat1on to 
implement any of the 1 ecommendat1ons mcluded m the report ' 
Amend the bill by msertmg after section 6 the followmg 
'Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. The followmg approp11at10ns and 
allocations are made 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF 
DACF Administration 0401 
Initiative· Provides funding for the technology management costs associated with one part-
time Hydrogeologist position 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
2023-24 
$3,292 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2024-25 
$3,292 
~os 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT /2 "to HP 937, L D 1441 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Geology and Resource Information Z237 
$3,292 
2023-24 
$585 
$585 
$3,292 
2024-25 
$585 
$585 
Imtiative Provides fundmg for one part-time Hydrogeologist posit10n and associated costs 
GENERAL FUND 
2023-24 
2024-25 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
500 
500 
Personal Services 
$51,993 
$54,793 
All Other 
$3,500 
$3,500 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND 
FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
$55,493 
2023-24 
$58,785 
$585 
$59,370 
$58,293 
2024-25 
$61,585 
$585 
$62,170 
Amend the bill by relettermg or ienumbe11ng any nonconsecutive Part lette1 or section 
number to read consecutively 
SUMMARY 
This amendment removes from the bill references to low flow areas and occurrences 
of low flow and clanfies that the Mame Agncultural Water Management Board w1thm the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry must develop recommendations for 
measures to better identify and notify agricultural producers about m-stream flows and lake 
or pond water levels subject to water use 1 eqmrements established by the Board of 
Environmental Protect10n under the Mame Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 470-H The 
amendment reqmres the Mame Agricultural Water Management Board to report annually 
only to the Joint standmg committee of the Legislature havmgJurisdict1on over agriculture, 
conservation and forestry matters The amendment also adds an appropriations and 
allocations section 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved 05/12/23 :tPae 
LD 1441 
LR 2071(02) 
An Act to Enhance State Oversight of Water Use and Water Resources 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ::4-• Qf-/ _ / T~ 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2023-24 
$58,785 
$58,785 
$585 
FY 2024-25 
$61,585 
$61,585 
$585 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
$64,324 
$64,324 
$585 
Projections 
FY 2026-27 
$67,201 
$67,201 
$585 
This bill changes the duties of the Water Resources Plannmg Committee and the Mame Agricultural Water 
Management Boatd withm the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF), mcreasmg data 
mamtenance and reportmg requirements The bill mcludes ongomg General Fund apptopnatlons of$58,785 begmmng 
m fiscal year 2023-24 for one part-time Hydrogeolog1st pos1t10n and associated costs It also mcludes ongomg Other 
Special Revenue Funds allocations of $585 begmnmg m fiscal year 2023-24 for technology management costs 
associated with the pos1t10n 
LR2071 (02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1