I. No owner shall breach any dam, lower any water body for the repair of any dam, or cause any significant lowering of the water level in a pond or lake without first notifying the local governing body in the cities or towns where said dam or water body is located and the department at least 30 days prior to any action specified above. The provisions of this section shall not apply to dams impounding bodies of water less than 10 acres or to the normal scheduled lowering of water levels each fall, the normal lowering of a water body by the exercise of water rights, the lowering of water levels by the department of environmental services to protect instream flows under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 483:9-c, or the lowering of water levels in any emergency situation.
II. The dam owner, in cooperation with the local governing body of each of the cities or towns, shall hold a public informational meeting at least 15 days prior to any action under paragraph I. The dam owner shall publish a notice of the public informational meeting in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the action shall occur at least 7 days before the time set for said meeting. The public notice and informational meeting required by this section shall be in addition to and not in place of other provisions of law pertaining to dams.