Bill > H255

This bill aims to protect and restore natural aquatic life in rivers and streams by establishing standards for stream flows, water levels, and hydrologic regimes, which are the natural patterns of water movement and levels in waterways. It mandates that the Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (referred to as "the division"), must create regulations to ensure these standards are met, balancing water use with the preservation of water resources. The bill also requires that any proposed water withdrawal must demonstrate that all feasible steps have been taken to avoid, minimize, and mitigate negative impacts on the natural environment, with mitigation efforts prioritized upstream in the same watershed. Furthermore, it introduces a Sustainable Water Resource Fund, allowing cities and towns to collect fees to offset the environmental impacts of water withdrawals and sewering, and to support water conservation efforts. The bill also addresses dams by defining "abandoned" and "remove" in relation to dams, allowing municipalities to acquire and manage dams, and establishing a revolving loan fund for private dam owners to inspect, repair, and remove dams, with increased penalties for violations related to dam safety. Finally, it requires the Department of Conservation and Recreation to create and maintain an inventory of all dams in the Commonwealth and to develop emergency action plans for high-hazard dams.