An Act To Provide Increased Opportunities on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1882-A  is enacted to read:

§ 1882-A.  Number in user group

Beginning with the 2014 camping season, a group of more than 24 persons of any age, including trip leaders and guides, may not travel on the watercourse or camp at waterway campsites. A group that exceeds this limit and intends to use the watercourse or campsites must separate into self-contained groups of 24 or fewer persons, and these groups must travel out of sight of each other or at least one-half mile apart and may not share equipment or campsites. The division may allow a group of more than 24 persons if the division determines that the activities of the group will not be detrimental to the use and operation of the watercourse and campsites.

summary

Current rules of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Division of Parks and Public Lands limit to 12 the number of members in a group that may travel on the Allagash watercourse or camp at Allagash Wilderness Waterway campsites. This bill increases the permissible size of a group to 24, beginning with the 2014 camping season. It also requires larger groups to separate into self-contained groups of 24 or fewer. The bill also gives the division the authority to permit groups composed of more than 24 persons.