Ch. 129 LAWS OF MARYLAND

State Streams to identify and assess the environmental quality of the streams of
the State; providing for the membership of and staff support for the Task Force;
authorizing a member of the Task Force to receive reimbursement for certain
expenses under certain circumstances; requiring the Task Force to study certain
issues, develop certain options, and make certain recommendations; requiring the
Task Force to issue a report by a certain date; and generally relating to the
Interdepartmental Task Force on Preservation of State Streams.

Preamble

WHEREAS, Maryland has an estimated 17,000 miles of streams that supply water
for domestic, municipal, agricultural, and industrial uses as well as provide a multitude
of recreational, ecological, and aesthetic benefits to the public; and

WHEREAS, These streams are subject to environmental damage as a result of
thermal pollution or the runoff of heated water from roadways, the accumulation of
sediment from development activities, and the release of pollutants from point and
non-point sources; and

WHEREAS, State and local agencies have created programs to protect, enhance,
and restore the quality of the waters of the State; and

WHEREAS, Private individuals and civic, environmental, and business
organizations have initiated community projects to protect, enhance, and restore the
quality of the waters of the State; and

WHEREAS, Despite initiatives taken by public and private organizations,
Maryland streams continue to suffer extensive environmental damage; and

WHEREAS, Statewide efforts to protect and enhance stream quality are
complicated by the large number of streams, the wide range of impacts, their individual
and cumulative effect, and the variety of related activities of government and private
organizations; and

WHEREAS, The public interest requires the planning and implementation of a
coordinated program for stream preservation to be developed jointly by representatives
of appropriate government agencies and the private sector; and

WHEREAS, A coordinated program for stream preservation can best be carried
out by joint management through- a State wide clearinghouse that maintains on
inventory of otreams, targets streams requiring prompt remedial action, and identifies
control measures necessary to preserve the streams; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That:

(1) There shall be is an Interdepartmental Task Force on Preservation of
State Streams to assess the quality of the streams of the State, target streams for
immediate remedial action, and develop site specific techniques to preserve the
environmental quality of each stream.

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