483:1 Statement of Policy. – New Hampshire’s rivers and streams comprise one of its most important natural resources, historically vital to New Hampshire’s commerce, industry, and tourism, and the quality of life of New Hampshire people. It is the policy of the state to ensure the continued viability of New Hampshire rivers as valued […]
483:10 River Corridor Management Plans. – I. The rivers coordinator shall provide technical assistance to local river management advisory committees, regional planning commissions, and municipalities, and shall encourage the development and implementation of local river corridor management plans pursuant to RSA 483:8-a, III(c). In developing these plans, the department shall coordinate with the department […]
483:10-a Repealed by 2016, 287:38, I, eff. Aug. 20, 2016. –
483:10-b Withholding of Section 401 Certification. – The general court finds that the development of any dam or channel alteration activities within a natural river or segment or the development of any new dam within a rural, rural-community, or community river or segment, except as provided in RSA 483:9-a, II, RSA 483:9-aa, II, and […]
483:11 Rulemaking. – The commissioner, with the advice of the advisory committee, shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the following: I. Content and submission of nominations, including requirements and criteria for river segments whose salinity, flow, or level is influenced by tides at its tidal mouth, under RSA 483:6, I. I-a. […]
483:12 Consistency of State Action. – Upon enactment of this chapter, all state agency actions affecting rivers or segments of such rivers which may be designated for protection under this chapter shall conform to the provisions of this chapter. Source. 1989, 339:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990.
483:12-a State Action; Notification of Rivers Coordinator; Petition for Review. – I. Any state agency considering any action affecting any river or segment designated under this chapter shall notify the rivers coordinator and the local river management advisory committee prior to taking any such action. Such agency shall forward to the rivers coordinator and […]
483:12-b Subject to Other Laws; Existing Hydroelectric Facilities. – I. Any activities permitted under this chapter shall be subject to all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. II. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the continued operation, repair and maintenance of hydroelectric storage and generation facilities existing on the effective date of this […]
483:13 Acceptance and Expenditure of Funds. – I. The commissioner may apply for and accept, from any source, gifts; donations of money; grants; federal, local, private, and other matching funds and incentives; and interests in land for the purposes of this chapter. The moneys collected under this paragraph shall be deposited in the fund […]
483:14 Disposition of State Property. – I. No state-owned property adjacent to or providing access to a river shall be disposed of by the state except upon the review and recommendation of the advisory committee. II. [Repealed.] Source. 1990, 118:4. 2009, 201:15, eff. July 15, 2009. 2016, 287:38, II, eff. Aug. 20, 2016.
483:15 Rivers Designated for Protection. – The following rivers and river segments are designated as protected: I. Lamprey River and the watershed tributaries: North Branch, Pawtuckaway, North, Little, and Piscassic Rivers. (a)(1) Lamprey River: (A) As a rural river from immediately downstream of Meadow Lake Dam in Northwood to the confluence with the North […]
483:2 Program Established; Intent. – There is established within the department of environmental services the New Hampshire rivers management and protection program. It is the intent of the legislature that the New Hampshire rivers management and protection program shall complement and reinforce existing state and federal water quality laws, and that in-stream flows are […]
483:3 Rivers Coordinator. – There is established in the department of environmental services, a state rivers coordinator, who shall be a classified employee qualified by reason of education and experience, and who shall administer the New Hampshire rivers management and protection program. Source. 1989, 339:1. 2007, 285:1, eff. Sept. 1, 2007.
483:4 Definitions. – In this chapter: I. "Advisory committee" means the rivers management advisory committee established in RSA 483:8. II. "Agriculture" means agriculture as defined in RSA 21:34-a. II-a. " Aquatic connectivity " means the ability of aquatic organisms to move naturally within and among water bodies, riparian areas, and floodplains freely without barriers. […]
483:5 Coordination With Federal Statutes. – For the purposes of section 10(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Power Act, those rivers or segments designated under this chapter and any state or local river corridor management plans developed pursuant to this chapter shall constitute one element of the state comprehensive plan for river conservation and development. Designated […]
483:6 Nominations; Criteria. – I. Any New Hampshire organization or resident may nominate a perennial river or any segment or segments of such river for protection by submitting to the commissioner a description of the river or segment or segments of such river and its values and characteristics. The completed nomination shall be submitted […]
483:7 Legislative Designation. – I. Any nomination approved by the commissioner shall require review and approval by the general court prior to inclusion in the program. Such action shall be filed as a bill in the next legislative session following the nomination. II. Any nomination which is forwarded to the general court for review […]
483:7-a River Classification Criteria; Management. – I. Those rivers or segments designated for inclusion in the program shall be classified as one or more of the following: (a) Natural rivers are free-flowing rivers or segments characterized by the high quality of natural and scenic resources. River shorelines are in primarily natural vegetation and river […]
483:8 Rivers Management Advisory Committee; Establishment. – There is established a rivers management advisory committee appointed by the governor and council. All members shall be New Hampshire residents and the department shall request that nominating organizations select nominees representing diverse geographic areas of the state. I. The advisory committee shall include: (a) A representative […]
483:8-a Local River Management Advisory Committees; Establishment; Duties. – I. The advisory committee shall appoint a local river management advisory committee for each designated river or segment. Committee members shall be chosen from lists of nominees submitted by the local governing bodies of the municipalities through which the designated river or segment flows. All […]
