Substitute House Bill No. 5355, known as Public Act No. 24-13, is a legislative act concerning the management of water resources in the Upper Farmington River Valley. The bill mandates that the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Metropolitan District Commission, is responsible for making requests to the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the release and holdback of water from the Colebrook River Lake Dam. These requests are to be made as necessary to maintain an optimum flow in the Farmington River that supports various interests, including fish and wildlife, recreation, river health, flood risk reduction, tourism, hydropower, and safety. The bill also stipulates that the Metropolitan District Commission must release water from the Goodwin Dam in amounts corresponding to the releases from the Colebrook Dam based on the Commissioner's requests, notwithstanding any other statutes or special acts.

Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to submit a report by January 1, 2025, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly that oversees environmental matters. This report, which is to be prepared within available resources, should recommend actions for the state to manage the waters in Colebrook River Lake between the levels of seven hundred one feet and six hundred forty-one feet, particularly if the federal government relieves the Metropolitan District Commission of its responsibilities over these waters. The report must consider the state's interest in achieving an optimum flow for the same seven interests listed above and must be developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The bill was approved on May 14, 2024.