The Legislature finds that the St. Croix River for its entire length, including Grand Lake and Spednick Lake, forms a common international boundary between the United States and Canada; and that the management of the waterway and the use of adjacent lands is of special concern to the State and the Province of New Brunswick. [PL 1987, c. 470, §2 (NEW).]

The Legislature finds that the State shares an important cultural, social and economic heritage with the Province of New Brunswick, that northern and eastern Maine’s economies are interdependent with that of the Province of New Brunswick and that careful efforts to promote tourism and development can have shared benefits for citizens of both regions. [PL 1987, c. 470, §2 (NEW).]

The Legislature finds that the St. Croix River was identified as one of the State’s most outstanding river stretches in the former Department of Conservation’s 1982 Maine Rivers Study and is specifically designated for protection in Title 12, section 405. [PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. D, §18 (AMD).]

The Legislature recognizes that industrial use of the river system and adjacent forest land has been the mainstay of the region’s economy for generations and that such continued use should be encouraged. [PL 1987, c. 470, §2 (NEW).]

The Legislature finds that the St. Croix River and lakes system provides an outstanding recreational fishery, including fishing opportunities for Atlantic salmon, and that the adjacent lands provide habitat for various species of wildlife, including the bald eagle and osprey. [PL 1987, c. 470, §2 (NEW).]

The Legislature finds that the diverse landscape features and natural resources provide the visitor with opportunities for boating, canoeing, hiking, bird watching, camping, swimming, picnicking, ice fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, among other activities; and that the river and forest lands along its shores provide hydropower and the raw materials for a forest products industry offering quality employment opportunities to people of the State. [PL 1987, c. 470, §2 (NEW).]

The Legislature further finds that the thoughtful development of opportunities to appreciate and use these resource features can provide increased development of tourism and employment, while protecting the very resources attracting people to the area; and to shepherd the resources carefully and effectively, while promoting the tourism potential of the area, requires joint planning, development and management of the area by the State and the Province of New Brunswick. [PL 1987, c. 470, §2 (NEW).]

The Legislature further finds that the St. Croix River Joint Advisory Commission, an international commission formed by the Governor of the State and the Premier of the Province of New Brunswick, in July 1986, to study the need for coordinated planning and management of the St. Croix River, recommended, in November 1986, the formation of a permanent 8-member commission, to be known as the St. Croix International Waterway Commission, composed of 4 representatives from Maine and 4 from the Province of New Brunswick, to develop a plan to coordinate planning and management of the uses and resources of the St. Croix Waterway. [PL 1987, c. 470, §2 (NEW).]

In view of the need for coordination of joint planning, development and management of the waterway by the State, the Province of New Brunswick and the affected private interests and the recommendation of the St. Croix River Joint Advisory Commission that Maine participate in a permanent commission, which shall be known as the St. Croix International Waterway Commission, and the fact that the Governor of the State and the Premier of the Province of New Brunswick have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which is the basis of this chapter and describes the composition, powers, authorities and boundaries of the commission, the participation of the State on the commission is hereby authorized and the necessary funds to support the State’s participation shall be appropriated to the commission. [PL 1987, c. 470, §2 (NEW).]