Shoreland Zoning

Organized Towns / Unorganized towns

Organized Towns

Shoreland Zone

• 250' from the highwater line (visible change in soils or vegetation) of any great pond, river, saltwater body, salt or freshwater wetland*
• 75' from the highwater line of a stream

* See Definitions page for specifics on how these water bodies are categorized

Municipalities are required to enact and enforce the following minimum restrictions in the shoreland zone. Municipalities may enact stricter zoning.

1. Less than 40% of the trees with a DBH greater or equal to 4" can be harvested in a 10 year period
   • Town planning board can approve a larger harvest if a licensed professional forester shows such a harvest is necessary for good forest management in a prepared forest management plan
2. No harvesting allowed within 75' of a great pond, unless for safety reasons
3. From 75' to 250' of a great pond, harvested areas must reforest within 2 growing seasons

Harvesting in a wetland is permissible, as long as it is not identified by Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as significant wildlife habitat.

(Field 1994)

 

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Plantations and Unorganized Towns

 

LURC has its own shoreland zoning for plantations and unorganized townships. LURC divides shoreland zones into two categories.

P-SL1: Within 250' of ponds greater than 10 acres, ocean, and streams below the point that drains greater than 50 square miles or drains ponds greater than 10 acres

P-SL2: Within 75' of streams draining less than 50 square miles and ponds less than 10 acres

LURC requires notification of any road building, stream crossing, or harvesting in a P-SL1 zone. Notification includes names of owners, names of harvesters, operation type, location, and zone of operations as found on a Land Use Guidance Map. These maps can be obtained from LURC by calling 1-800-452-8711. Activities may begin after notification (Land Use Handbook 1995).

Within 50' of a P-SL1 water body (high water mark)

• No clearcutting
• Leave well distributed stand to maintain water quality, recreation, and aesthetics
• No slash

Within 250' of a P-SL1 water body

• Create no openings greater than 14,000 square feet (66.7' or 1 chain radius)
• Openings greater than 10,000 square feet (56.4' radius) must be at least 100' apart
• In a 10 year period, remove no more than 40% of volume in each acre of trees > 6" DBH
• All slash with a diameter > 3" keep below 4' above the ground

Where harvesting results in exposed mineral soil (roads and trails), a filter strip is required between the activity and the high water line of water bodies. This does not apply to water crossings. The following table shows the requires width of the strip.

% Slope	Width (ft)
0	25
10	45
20	65
30	85
40	105
50	125
60	145
70	165

• No slash in stream channels below the point that drains greater than 300 acres
• No skidding down P-SL1 or P-SL2 stream channels, unless frozen
• Maintain shade of P-SL2 surface waters
• Avoid sedimentation of P-SL2 streams
• Cross streams with the shortest possible route and where the stream bed is a hard surface
• Follow BMPs for roads and water crossings

LURC has specific standards for water crossings and roads in chapter 10 of the Commission's Rules and Standards. These standards are pretty much the same as state BMPs. Get a copy by calling LURC 1-800-452-8711.

(LURC 1991)

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