Agriculture Agricultural Only §450-A

Water

Management

Board

Sec. 2. 38 MRSA c. 3, sub-c. 1, article 2-C is enacted to read:

Article 2-C

MAINE AGRICULTURAL DROUGHT PROTECTION ACT

§450-A.__Maine Agricultural Water Management Board

1.__Membership.__The Maine Agricultural Water Management Board, as established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 3- D, consists of 5 members, who must be residents of the State.

2.__Terms.__The first board is appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources.__The terms of the first board are governed by Title 35-A, section 6410, subsection 4.__ After the first appointment of the first board, members are appointed for 3-year terms.

3.__Compensation.__Board members are compensated in accordance with Title 5, chapter 379.

4.__Responsibilities.__The board shall develop, manage and regulate all agricultural water source developments and withdrawals in the State.__The board is authorized to establish withdrawal limits for agricultural water withdrawals based on historical use or, for new users, based on calculated water budgets to prevent drought stress on crops or livestock.

§450-B.__Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1.__Acceptable river stream flow.__"Acceptable river stream flow" means the quantity of stream flows at one or more specific locations that provides for aquatic life protection and other needs as established by the department based on municipal, agricultural, industrial and environmental needs.