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Section 3 of chapter 21G of the General Laws is hereby amended byinserting, at the end of second paragraph, the following:-

"The commission shall adopt policies and guidelines that establish criteriaand standards for maintaining instream flows and hydrologic regimes thatare protective of natural aquatic life for all rivers and streams in theCommonwealth. Such criteria and standards must be based on the natural variation of flows and water levels."

SECTION 2.

Section 3 of chapter 21G of the General Laws is further amended by inserting, in the sixth paragraph, in line 67, after the phrase "chapter twenty-one", the following sentence:-"The department shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing criteria and standards for maintaining instream flows and hydrologic regimes that are protective of natural aquatic life for all rivers and streams in the Commonwealth. Such criteria and standards must be based on the natural variation of flows and water levels."

SECTION 3.

The Water Resources Commission is authorized and directed to adopt policies and guidelines establishing standards and criteria as required by section 3 of chapter 21G within twelve months of the effective date of this section.

SECTION 4.

The department of environmental protection is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations implementing streamflow standards and criteria as required by section 3 of chapter 21G within eighteen months of the effective date of this section.