Ch. 551

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(b)  A governing body shall act as the district council for
the district and may carry out the duties vested by law or which
are reasonably necessary.

(c)  A governing body shall refer every proposed district to
the section of waterways improvement of the Department for a
report and evaluation of benefits to be achieved by creating the
proposed district. The Department shall review the proposed
district and submit a report to the governing body containing
recommendations on feasibility and need for the proposed
district. The report shall include the area within the district,
the work or project to be carried out within the district
pursuant to § 8-707, and the estimated cost for the work or
project recommended.

8-706.

The Department shall carry out the administrative duties
concerning the waterways improvement districts. In addition it
shall:

(1)  Review proposals and petitions to establish
waterways improvement districts and report to the governing body
on each proposed district as provided in § 8-705;

(2)  Provide engineering design for waterways
projects, and supervise, or provide supervision for these
projects;

(3)  Clear debris, aquatic vegetation, and obstruction
from waters of the State;

(4)  Provide liaison with the United States Army Corps
of Engineers on projects under § 107 of the Rivers and Harbors
Act;

(5)  Prepare requests for appropriation of funds
necessary to pay the State's share of the cost of projects; [and]

(6)  Administer the Waterway Improvement Fund to
provide interest-free loans to any governing body for a waterway
improvement project as provided in § 8-708(d) of this subtitle;
AND

(7)  ADMINISTER THE WATERWAY IMPROVEMENT FUND TO
PROVIDE INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO ANY A GOVERNING BODY FOR THE
BENEFIT OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER, OR GROUP OF RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY OWNERS, WITH LAND ABUTTING A CHANNEL ADJACENT TO A MAIN
CHANNEL OR HARBOR FOR DREDGING THE ADJACENT CHANNEL AS PROVIDED
IN § 8-708.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

8-707.

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