Water resources restoration and preservation.

(1) This section may be cited as the “Water Resources Restoration and Preservation Act.”

(2) Subject to specific legislative appropriation, the department shall establish a program to assist in the restoration and preservation of bodies of water and to enhance existing public access when deemed necessary for the enhancement of the restoration effort.

(3) The department shall adopt, by rule, criteria for the allocation of restoration and preservation funds. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) The degree of water quality degradation;

(b) The degree to which sources of pollution which have contributed to the need for restoration or preservation have been abated;

(c) The public uses which can be made of the subject waters;

(d) The ecological value of the subject waters in relation to other waters proposed for restoration and preservation;

(e) The implementation by local government of regulatory or management programs to prevent further and subsequent degradation of the subject waters; and

(f) The commitment of local government resources to assist in the proposed restoration and preservation.

(4) The provisions of this act are for the benefit of the public and shall be liberally construed to accomplish the purposes set forth in this act.