APPROVED CHAPTER
JULY 8, 2021 424
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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H.P. 436 - L.D. 593
An Act To Restore Eelgrass Mapping and Enhance Salt Marsh Vegetation
Mapping in the State
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1805 is enacted to read:
§1805. Eelgrass and salt marsh vegetation mapping
In accordance with the requirements of this section and in consultation with the
Department of Marine Resources, the department shall establish and administer an eelgrass
and salt marsh vegetation mapping program. For the purposes of this section, "eelgrass"
means the flowering marine plant species Zostera marina that is primarily found in shallow,
protected intertidal and subtidal locations in the State. For the purposes of this section, "salt
marsh vegetation" means salt-tolerant vegetation that contains a mixture of graminoids and
forbs and sometimes includes cordgrasses.
1. Mapping procedures. The department shall in accordance with the schedule in
subsection 3 facilitate the production and update of eelgrass and salt marsh vegetation
distribution maps for eelgrass beds and salt marsh vegetation within the State. The data
collected and the maps produced and updated in accordance with this section must, to the
maximum extent practicable, be compatible with the State's geographic information
system.
2. Eelgrass and Salt Marsh Vegetation Mapping Fund. The Eelgrass and Salt
Marsh Vegetation Mapping Fund is created within the department as a nonlapsing
dedicated fund to support the establishment and administration of the eelgrass and salt
marsh vegetation mapping program required under this section. The fund may accept
revenue from grants, bequests, gifts or contributions from any source, public or private.
3. Mapping schedule. The mapping of eelgrass beds and salt marsh vegetation
required under this section must be conducted in accordance with the following schedule,
as department resources allow.
A. No later than November 1, 2023, mapping must be completed for that portion of
the coast from Phippsburg to St. George and must be updated every 5 years thereafter.
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 B. No later than November 1, 2024, mapping must be completed for that portion of
the coast from St. George to Brooklin and must be updated every 5 years thereafter.
C. No later than November 1, 2025, mapping must be completed for that portion of
the coast from Brooklin to Jonesport and must be updated every 5 years thereafter.
D. No later than November 1, 2026, mapping must be completed for that portion of
the coast from Jonesport to Calais and must be updated every 5 years thereafter.
E. No later than November 1, 2027, mapping must be completed for that portion of
the coast from Eliot to Phippsburg and must be updated every 5 years thereafter.
4. Availability of data and maps. The department shall make available on its publicly
accessible website the data collected and maps produced and updated under this section.
5. Report. On or before March 1, 2024, and biennially thereafter, the department shall
submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over
environmental and natural resources matters a report summarizing the data collected and
maps produced and updated under this section and including an analysis, if available, of
the changes to the eelgrass beds and salt marsh vegetation within the State that are
demonstrated by the data collected and maps produced under this section
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
Eelgrass and Salt Marsh Vegetation Mapping Fund N302
Initiative: Provides an allocation to accept grants, bequests, gifts or contributions from any
source, public or private, to support the administration of the eelgrass and salt marsh
vegetation mapping program.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2021-22 2022-23
All Other $0 $500
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 $500
Water Quality 0248
Initiative: Provides appropriations for one Biologist II position and one Environmental
Technician position and All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND 2021-22 2022-23
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 0.000 2.000
Personal Services $0 $191,551
All Other $0 $6,292
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $197,843
Water Quality 0248
Initiative: Provides appropriations for aerial imagery acquisition and processing and annual
equipment maintenance and replacement.
GENERAL FUND 2021-22 2022-23
All Other $0 $86,671
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 __________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $86,671
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2021-22 2022-23
GENERAL FUND $0 $284,514
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $500
__________ __________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $0 $285,014
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