The Department of Environmental Conservation is created to administer the water conservation policy of this State. It is in the public interest that the waters of the State shall be protected, regulated, and where necessary controlled under the authority of the State. The proper administration of the water resources now and for the future require careful consideration of the interruption of the natural flow of water in our watercourses resulting from the construction of new, and the operation of existing dams, diversion, and other control structures. This subchapter is intended to identify this need, to provide a means for the investigation of the cause and effect of intermittent or diverted flow, and for the consideration of corrective actions required to assure as nearly continuous flow of waters in the natural watercourses as may be possible consistent with reasonable use of riparian rights. (1965, No. 37, § 1; amended 1981, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), § 24; 1987, No. 76, § 18.)