Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
669 - BUREAU OF FORESTRY (MAINE FOREST SERVICE)
Chapter 21 - STATEWIDE STANDARDS FOR TIMBER HARVESTING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES IN SHORELAND AREAS
Section 669-21-10 - LAND MANAGEMENT ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS

Universal Citation: 01 ME Code Rules ยง 669-21-10

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

A. APPLICABILITY. The requirements of Section 10 apply to the construction, maintenance, and use of land management roads in shoreland areas. This section does not apply to crossings of water bodies conducted in compliance with Section 11 of this rule.

B. ROAD DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE. Land management roads, including approaches to crossings of stream channels and freshwater wetlands, ditches and other related structures, must be designed, constructed, and maintained to prevent sediment and concentrated water runoff from directly entering the water body. Surface water on or adjacent to crossing approaches must be diverted through vegetative filter strips to avoid sedimentation of the watercourse. Because roadside ditches may not extend to the resource being crossed, filter strips must be established in accordance with the slope table in Section 12 of this rule.

C. SETBACKS. Land management roads and associated ditches, excavation, and fill must be set back at least:

1. 100 feet from the normal high-water line of a Great Pond or a river that flows to a Great Pond, rivers draining more than 50 square miles in the jurisdiction of the Land Use Planning Commission, rivers draining more than 25 square miles in municipalities not subject to the jurisdiction of the Land Use Planning Commission, nonforested freshwater wetlands 10 acres or larger, any coastal wetland, and any pond or freshwater wetland identified by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as significant wildlife habitat or essential wildlife habitat;

2. 50 feet from the normal high water line of streams draining more than 300 acres but less than 50 square miles in the jurisdiction of the Land Use Planning Commission and streams below the 300 acre drainage but above the 25 square mile drainage point in municipalities not subject to the jurisdiction of the Land Use Planning Commission; and,

3. 25 feet from the normal high water line of streams draining less than 300 acres and ponds or freshwater wetlands larger than 4,300 square feet but less than 10 acres that are not identified by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as significant wildlife habitat or essential wildlife habitat.

4. Exceptions
a. The minimum 100 foot setback specified in subsection 1 above may be reduced to no less than 50 feet, if, prior to construction, the landowner or the landowner's designated agent demonstrates to the Bureau's satisfaction that no reasonable alternative exists and that appropriate techniques will be used to prevent sedimentation of the water body. Such techniques may include, but are not limited to, the installation of settling basins, and/or the effective use of additional ditch relief culverts and turnouts placed to avoid sedimentation of the water body. If, despite such precautions, sedimentation or the disruption of shoreline integrity occurs, such conditions must be corrected.

b. The minimum 50 foot setback specified in subsection 2 above may be reduced to no less than 25 feet, if, prior to construction, the landowner or the landowner's designated agent demonstrates to the Bureau's satisfaction that no reasonable alternative exists and that appropriate techniques will be used to prevent sedimentation of the water body. Such techniques may include, but are not limited to, the installation of settling basins, and/or the effective use of additional ditch relief culverts and turnouts placed to avoid sedimentation of the water body or the disruption of shoreline integrity. If, despite such precautions, sedimentation or the disruption of shoreline integrity occurs, such conditions must be corrected.

5. On slopes of 10 percent or greater, the land management road setback must be increased by at least 20 feet, plus an additional 10 feet for each 5 percent increase in slope above 10 percent, but in no case may the land management road setback be less than that indicated in the slope table presented in Section 12 of this rule.

6. New land management roads are not permitted within the shoreland area along Significant River Segments as identified in 38 M.R.S. §437 (Supp. 2013), nor in Resource Protection Districts as identified in municipal shoreland zoning ordinances nor in Recreation Protection Subdistricts (P-RR) as identified by the Land Use Planning Commission, unless, prior to construction, the landowner or the landowner's designated agent makes a clear demonstration to the Bureau's satisfaction that no reasonable alternative route exists outside the shoreland zone, and that the new road must be set back as far as practicable from the normal high water line and screened from the river by existing vegetation.

D. MAINTENANCE. Ditches, culverts, bridges, dips, water turnouts and other water control installations associated with roads must be maintained on a regular basis to assure effective functioning. Drainage structures shall deliver a dispersed flow of water into an unscarified filter strip no less than the width indicated in the slope table set forth in Section 12 of this rule. Where such filter strip is impracticable, appropriate techniques shall be used to avoid sedimentation of the water body or wetland. Such techniques may include the installation of sump holes or settling basins, and/or the effective use of additional ditch relief culverts and ditch water turnouts placed to avoid sedimentation of the water body or wetland. If, despite such precautions, sedimentation or the disruption of shoreline integrity occurs, such conditions must be corrected.

E. ROAD CLOSEOUT AND DISCONTINUANCE. Maintenance of the water control installations required above must continue until use of the road is discontinued and the road is put to bed by effective installation of water bars or other adequate road drainage structures at appropriate intervals, constructed to avoid surface water flowing over or under the water bar, and extending sufficient distance beyond the traveled way so that water does not reenter the road surface.

F. UPGRADING EXISTING ROADS. Extension or enlargement of presently existing roads must conform to the provisions of this section. Any nonconforming existing road may continue to exist and to be maintained, as long as the nonconforming conditions are not made more nonconforming.

Exception. Extension or enlargement of presently existing roads need not conform to the setback requirements of Section 10.C if, prior to extension or enlargement, the landowner or the landowner's designated agent demonstrates to the Bureau's satisfaction that no reasonable alternative exists and that appropriate techniques will be used to prevent sedimentation of the water body. Such techniques may include, but are not limited to, the installation of settling basins, and/or the effective use of additional ditch relief culverts and turnouts placed to avoid sedimentation of the water body. If, despite such precautions, sedimentation or the disruption of shoreline integrity occurs, such conditions must be corrected.

G. ADDITIONAL MEASURES. In addition to the foregoing minimum requirements, persons undertaking construction and maintenance of roads and stream crossings must take reasonable measures to avoid sedimentation of surface waters.

NOTE: For guidance on reasonable measures, consult the Bureau publication, "Best Management Practices for Forestry: Protecting Maine's Water Quality" (2004). This publication is available from the Bureau and on the Bureau's website, www.maineforestservice.gov.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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