An Act Regarding the Passage of River Herring on the St. Croix River

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the prohibition on allowing river herring to pass upstream from the Grand Falls Dam on the St. Croix River is a significant impediment to the restoration of river herring to historic levels in the St. Croix watershed; and

Whereas,  legislation allowing unimpeded passage of river herring upstream from the Grand Falls Dam on the St. Croix River needs to take effect prior to the river herring's spring spawning run; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6134, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2011, c. 598, §12, is further amended to read:

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6134, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2011, c. 598, §12, is repealed.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This bill requires the Commissioner of Marine Resources and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to ensure by May 1, 2013 that fishways on the Woodland Dam and the Grand Falls Dam are configured in a manner that allows the unlimited passage of river herring.