A priority watershed protection grants program is established, to be administered by the department, for the purpose of providing financial assistance to entities to conduct projects that implement best management practices or other management measures in order to reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution in surface waters of the State. Funding may not be used to pay salaries of state agency staff. [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] 1. Project elements. Each project proposal must either create a watershed management plan or implement an existing plan. A plan must include the following elements: A. An assessment of water quality and uses of water bodies within the watershed; [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] B. An inventory of the types of land uses and the types and severity of nonpoint source pollution in the watershed; [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] C. An evaluation of the types and severity of other factors that may be affecting water quality; [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] D. A determination of nonpoint source pollution controls and measures necessary to improve or protect water quality; [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] E. An implementation strategy to address nonpoint sources of pollution in the watershed that includes costs and schedules for implementing best management practices or other management measures and agreements outlining responsibilities for meeting this strategy; [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] F. Actions to inform eligible landowners of the importance of utilizing best management practices on a voluntary or cost-shared basis; [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] G. An objective evaluation of the plan following implementation; and [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] H. Actions to achieve self-sustaining financial support of the plan. [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] 2. Project approval. The board shall approve funding for projects based on the following preferences, considering public comments on project proposals that have been submitted to the board: A. [PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. EE, §25 (RP); PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. EE, §30 (AFF).] B. Projects that demonstrate extensive local support in either funding or services; [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] C. Projects that seek to solve current pollution problems and plan for future protection of resources; and [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] D. Projects that create techniques, products or information that can be of use in more than one setting or in other projects in the State. [PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 519, Pt. B, §3 (AFF).] [PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. EE, §25 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. EE, §30 (AFF).]
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