Vermont § 1423 - Water resources and shoreland use plan

§ 1423. Water resources and shoreland use plan

• (a) The Secretary shall make studies, establish policies, and make plans for the efficient
  use, conservation, development, and protection of the State’s water resources and: (1) On the basis of these studies and plans, make recommendations to State agencies relative
  to their water resources activities. (2) Locate and maintain information relating to the State’s water resources. The Secretary
  shall collect pertinent data available from State, regional, and federal agencies,
  the University of Vermont, Vermont State Colleges, local units of government, and
  other sources. (3) Public shorelands in which the existing use is exclusively as a public water supply
  and public shorelands in which the potential use may be as a public water supply shall
  be classified on that basis. (4) Serve as a clearinghouse for information relating to water resources including referring
  citizens and local units of government to the appropriate sources for advice and assistance
  in connection with particular water use problems. (b) The Secretary shall prepare a comprehensive plan relating to water resources as a
  guide for the preparation of a State, regional, or municipal land use or development
  plan. The plan shall be based on the classification of waters pursuant to chapter
  47 of this title. The plan shall to the extent possible give consideration to any
  existing regional or municipal plans that are compatible with the interests of the
  State. The primary purpose of the plan shall be for the preventive control of pollution,
  giving due consideration to necessary development and growth. The plans shall be governed
  by the following general standards: (1) Domestic uses shall be generally preferred. (2) Uses not inherently a source of pollution within an area shall be preferred over uses
  that are or may be a pollution source. (3) Areas in which the existing or potential economic value of public, recreational or
  similar uses exceeds the existing or potential economic value of any other use shall
  be classified primarily on the basis of the higher economic use value. (4) Use locations within an area tending to minimize the possibility of pollution shall
  be preferred over use locations tending to increase that possibility. (5) Use dispersions within an area shall be preferred over concentrations of uses or their
  undue proximity to each other. (6) Particular attention shall be given to safe and healthful conditions for the enjoyment
  of aquatic recreation; the demands of water traffic, boating, and water sports; the
  capability of the water resource; requirements necessary to ensure proper operation
  of septic tank disposal fields near navigable waters; building setbacks from the water;
  preservation of shore growth and cover; conservancy uses for low lying lands; and
  shoreland layout for residential and commercial developments. (c) [Repealed.] (Added 1969, No. 281 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; amended 1973, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1989, No. 265 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1989, No. 265 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(b), eff. March 1, 1994; 2003, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 35, eff. Jan. 31, 2005; 2015, No. 97 (Adj. Sess.), § 22.)