1024                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                            [Ch. 4

THE SECRETARY SHALL TAKE EVERY NECESSARY STEP TO
ENACT APPROPRIATE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS WITH
OTHER STATES TO PRESERVE THE OPTIMAL STATE OF THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY THROUGH ORGANIZATION OF AN INTERSTATE
BODY TO PLAN, MANAGE, COORDINATE, AND ENFORCE THE
PROPER USE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, SO EVERY USER OF THE
BAY AREA CAN OBTAIN MAXIMUM ADVANTAGE OF THE BAY.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section presently appears as
Article 66C, section 2 of the Code. The
only changes made are in style.

SUBTITLE 3. INTERSTATE WATER COMPACTS.
8-301. POTOMAC RIVER BASIN COMPACT.

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS, THE POTOMAC RIVER BASIN HAS EXPERIENCED
MANY YEARS OF DROUGHT WHICH SEVERELY DAMAGED THE
PRODUCTIVITY OF AGRICULTURE AND DRASTICALLY REDUCED
THE FLOW OF THE RIVER WHICH THREATENED THE WATER
SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT THE BASIN AND PARTICULARLY IN THE
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA AT THE TIME OF GREATEST
DEMAND; AND

WHEREAS, THE FLOW OF THE POTOMAC RIVER AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES IS SUBJECT TO DRAMATIC FLUCTUATION AND
VARIATION, SO MUCH SO THAT MELTING SNOWS AND SPRING
RAINS HAVE PRODUCED COSTLY AND DAMAGING FLOODS EVEN IN
YEARS OF MINIMAL SUMMER FLOWS; AND

WHEREAS, THE POPULATION OF THE POTOMAC RIVER
BASIN AND THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
THEREIN HAVE GREATLY EXPANDED DURING THE LAST DECADE,
AND ARE CONTINUING TO EXPAND, INCREASING THE DEMANDS
FOR WATER SUPPLY AND THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS THROUGH
FLOODS; AND

WHEREAS, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MADE NUMEROUS SURVEYS AND REPORTS
CONCERNING THE WATER AND RELATED RESOURCES OF THE
POTOMAC RIVER BASIN WHICH REVEALED THE URGENT NEED FOR
MEASURES TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY AND FLOOD
PROTECTION, TO REDUCE SEDIMENTATION AND OTHERWISE
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE WATERS, TO PROVIDE WATER
RELATED RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, TO ENHANCE THE
PRESERVATION AND PROPAGATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, AND
TO PROMOTE RELATED FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE, SOIL
CONSERVATION AND WATERSHED PROJECTS; AND