38 M.R.S. §652: --diversion of water

Any person authorized to erect and maintain a watermill and dams on a stream not navigable and to divert the water of such stream from its natural channel by a canal not exceeding one mile in length for the purpose of propelling mills or machinery under section 651 may so divert such waters without that limitation to one mile, as long as that person is the owner of the land on which the canal is to be located or has the consent of the owners thereof, and as long as that person is the owner of all riparian rights on that stream between the point of diversion and the point at which the waters are returned to the stream, upon the terms and conditions, and subject to the regulations under this chapter. Under this section, "canal" includes excavations in the ground and closed flumes, penstocks, pipelines and other appropriate means of conveying water from the point of diversion to the point of return to the stream.