Sec. 2. (a) The department may establish a submerged lands preserve for any area of submerged lands in Lake Michigan or the Ohio River that:
(1) contains:
(A) a watercraft; or
(B) an aircraft;
of historical value;
(2) contains:
(A) a watercraft; or
(B) an aircraft;
constituting abandoned property; or
(3) contains other features of historical, archeological, recreational, ecological, geological, environmental, educational, scenic, or scientific value.
(b) When establishing a submerged lands preserve, the department shall consider whether creating the preserve is necessary to:
(1) protect either abandoned property possessing historical or recreational value; or
(2) protect significant underwater geological or environmental features.
(c) Each submerged lands preserve established must encompass the designated submerged land area and extend upward to include the surface of the water.
(d) Within each submerged lands preserve established, the department shall govern access to and use of the submerged lands preserve, including regulating or prohibiting the alteration, destruction, or removal of abandoned property, features, or formations within a preserve.
(e) The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter.
As added by P.L.125-2025, SEC.7.
