Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 25, June 22, 2024
Section 9.121 - Watersheds with high quality streams(a) Many environmental values associated with watersheds with high quality streams are of Statewide importance. Since many of these watersheds cover large contiguous areas, they also are ecologically important for maintaining the relatively undisturbed character of natural systems.(b) As a result, watersheds with high quality streams contain many of the unique, rare, and fragile resources of the Commonwealth and are important to Statewide environmental quality. Protection of these resources and maintenance of ecologic relationships is the major environmental policy concern in watersheds with high quality streams.(c) It shall be the environmental policy of the Commonwealth to protect and maintain the aesthetic, ecological, natural, recreational, wild and other environmental values of watersheds with high quality streams.(d) The protection of these values will require action in several important areas. The following policies address specific environmental issues and provide the basis for protecting water quality and other associated values of watersheds with high quality streams.