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| 4.__Responsibilities.__The board shall develop, manage and | | regulate all agricultural water source developments and withdrawals | | in the State.__The board is authorized to establish withdrawal | | limits for agricultural water withdrawals based on historical use | | or, for new users, based on calculated water budgets to prevent | | drought stress on crops or livestock.__The board also has all the | | powers and authority provided in Title 7, chapter 13. |
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| | | Sec. 5. Continue to provide water. Nothing in this Act is intended to | | alter or affect or may be interpreted as altering or affecting | | any state water district's continuing to provide water service to | | its existing customers. Any farmer who wishes to join with the | | Maine Agricultural Water Management Board, established in the | | Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 3-D, | | to develop a new water source on the farmer's private property | | may do so in addition to participating in an existing state water | | district. |
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| | | Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, | | this Act takes effect when approved. |
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| | | This bill establishes an agricultural water source development | | and management program to ensure that agricultural producers have | | access to water for crop and livestock needs, especially during | | agricultural droughts. |
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| | | This bill also establishes the Maine Agricultural Water | | Management Board. |
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