Massachusetts § 19A - Lowering waters of great ponds; penalty

§ 19A. Lowering waters of great ponds; penalty

Section 19A. No person authorized or licensed to build any structure, drive piles, fill land or to make any dam or other obstruction or encroachment in, over or upon the waters of any great pond below the natural high water mark, or to make any erection or excavation at any outlet of a great pond whereby the water may be raised or lowered, shall, except in case of emergency, lower the water of said pond, except a body of water used for agricultural, manufacturing, mercantile, irrigation, or insect control purposes, or for flowing cranberry bogs, or for public water supply, unless he shall have notified the department of environmental protection of his intention so to do and has received the approval of said department to lower the waters of said pond. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars.