There is established within the office of energy and planning, hereafter referred to as the office, the water protection assistance program. The purpose of the program is to encourage and assist municipalities individually and, where appropriate, collectively to evaluate their water resources and to develop local and regional measures for the protection of both ground and surface water. The program shall recognize the interdependency of municipalities which lie within a common watershed and shall facilitate cooperative planning for the management and protection of common water resources. By providing a range of technical assistance, the program shall help municipalities to exercise powers within their jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, land use regulation, to enhance water protection measures, and to ensure the continued availability of this resource.
Source. 1987, 283:3, eff. May 25, 1987. 2003, 319:9, eff. July 1, 2003. 2004, 257:44, eff. July 1, 2004.