§ 24-0901. Cooperative agreements.

1. The commissioner shall confer with local government officials in
each region to establish a program for the protection of the freshwater
wetlands of the state.

2. The commissioner may enter into cooperative agreements with any
city, village, town or county, or with an owner of freshwater wetlands
or with any one or more of them, for the purpose of preserving and
maintaining, in accordance with the policies of this article, those
freshwater wetlands which are within the boundaries of such city,
village, town or county.

3. The cooperative agreement shall provide that the freshwater
wetlands be preserved and maintained in their natural state and may
provide for access thereto to be retained by such owner for purposes
compatible with the purposes of this article.

4. A cooperative agreement with any such village, town, city or county
may provide for the development by personnel and facilities of the
department or the payment out of funds appropriated therefor, for the
purpose of preserving, maintaining, or enhancing such wetlands in
accordance with the policies of this article, and for the furnishing of
such personnel, facilities or funds as may be agreed upon by the parties
to the cooperative agreement.

5. This section shall not prevent any freshwater wetland from being
designated as part of the natural and historic preserves of the state,
nor shall it prevent preservation of such lands by dedication as state
parks. The office of parks and recreation shall outline to the
commissioner its plans to preserve freshwater wetlands as parks and
reserves as soon as possible after the effective date of this article.