51-4-7 - Establishment; administration by Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; eligibility for designation as scenic stream. - Mississippi Statutes

§ 51-4-7. Establishment; administration by Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; eligibility for designation as scenic stream.
 

(1)  There is hereby created the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program. The department shall coordinate the program. The department shall establish and publish minimum criteria for assessing a stream's eligibility for the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program. To qualify as eligible, the stream must possess unique or outstanding scenic, recreational, geological, botanical, fish, wildlife, historic or cultural values. The level of pollution of a stream's waters must be considered in determining eligibility for qualification as a scenic stream. A stream with relatively polluted waters may qualify as eligible as a scenic stream if other values are considered outstanding. 

(2) (a)  The department shall inventory and evaluate Mississippi streams and identify the streams or stream segments which possess unique or outstanding scenic, recreational, geological, botanical, fish, wildlife, historic or cultural values based on the criteria established under this section. 

(b) Any Mississippi organization, resident, state agency or local government may request the department to evaluate a stream. 

(3)  If the department determines that a stream meets the eligibility criteria, the department may recommend to the Legislature that a stream or stream segment be listed as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program. In order for a stream to be listed as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program, the recommendation must be filed as a bill and must be adopted by the Legislature. 
 

Sources: Laws, 1999, ch. 381, § 4, eff from and after July 1, 1999.