BILL NUMBER: S1733
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
creating a program to assist local municipalities with water quality
improvement of water bodies managed by lake associations
 
PURPOSE:
Creates a program to assist in ensuring water quality of bodies of water
that are managed by lake associations
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes a program to assist municipalities in improving
the water quality of bodies of water owned by lake associations. The
program, at the request of municipalities, shall assist in identifying
water quality concerns at a water body managed by a lake association, as
well as determining the most effective means of remediation for these
concerns and deciding practices to improve and maintain water quality.
This section additionally establishes a grant program to assist munici-
palities with remedial actions to address water quality at lake associ-
ations. Lastly, it authorizes the department to declare rules and regu-
lations to implement this section.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
There are many resources available to aid municipalities in improving
water quality. However, many small lake associations that are tasked
with managing these bodies of water neither have the capital to afford a
consultant to identify what the contaminant is and its source, nor are
they able to qualify to apply for grant programs that are accessible to
municipalities. Our water bodies know no boundaries. While the surface
of a body of water may reside in private hands, once it reaches a
watershed is a public asset that must be managed accordingly.
Without access to resources necessary to remedy poor water quality,
potential pollution to nearby wells and surrounding groundwater will
continue. This legislation will open up avenues for lake associations to
receive much needed aid. Water quality issues will be addressed by
providing for a consultant to help municipalities and lake associations
the contaminants that are compromising the water quality of their lakes,
the source of the contamination, and what remediation action is neces-
sary.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022-2024: S5728A/A6056 - Passed Senate/Died in Environmental Conserva-
tion
2021-2022: S655/A7543 - Passed Senate/Died in Environmental Conservation
2019-2020: S7545/A9912 - Died in Environmental Conservation/Died in
Environmental Conservation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment,
and/or repeal of any rules and regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed
to be completed on or before such effective date.