§ 8-706. Waterways improvement districts -- Department's functions

   The Department shall carry out the administrative duties concerning the waterways improvement districts. In addition, the Department shall:

   (1) Review proposals and petitions to establish waterways improvement districts and report to the governing body on each proposed district as provided in § 8-705 of this subtitle;

   (2) Provide engineering design for waterways projects and supervise or provide supervision for these projects;

   (3) Clear debris, aquatic vegetation, and obstructions from waters of the State;

   (4) Provide liaison with the United States Army Corps of Engineers on projects under § 107 of the Rivers and Harbors Act;

   (5) Prepare requests for appropriation of funds necessary to pay the State's share of the cost of projects;

   (6) Administer the Waterway Improvement Fund to provide interest-free loans to any governing body for a waterway improvement project as provided in § 8-708(d) of this subtitle; and

   (7) Administer the Waterway Improvement Fund to provide interest-free loans to a governing body for the benefit of a residential property owner, or group of residential property owners, with land abutting a channel adjacent to a main channel or harbor for dredging the adjacent channel as provided in § 8-708.1 of this subtitle.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 14B, § 12E; 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., ch. 4, § 1; 1978, ch. 983, § 2; 1988, ch. 551; 1990, ch. 6, § 2; 1991, ch. 55, § 1.