(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health, is authorized, as the representative of the state of Connecticut, to negotiate, cooperate and enter into agreements or compacts with authorized agencies representing any one or more states or commonwealths, or the United States, or any combination thereof, relative to flood control, river and harbor improvements or obstructions, navigation, pollution of interstate waters, diversion of interstate waters, and the use of such interstate waters by any agency of the United States, or any one or more states or commonwealths, which will tend to increase the hazard of damage to persons or property located or situated in this state by reason of flood waters or which will in any way interfere adversely with the navigability of any stream or river located wholly or partially within this state during periods of low flow in the main stream or any of its tributaries. With respect to matters relating to river and harbor improvements and the navigability of streams or rivers, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may, as appropriate, request and consider recommendations of the Commissioner of Transportation and the board of directors of the Connecticut Port Authority.

(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection is designated as the shore erosion agency of the state for the purpose of cooperating with the Beach Erosion Board of the United States Department of Defense, as provided for in Section 2 of the “River and Harbor Act” adopted by Congress and approved July 3, 1930, and known as H.R. Number 11781 of the second session of the 71st Congress. Said commissioner shall carry out investigations and studies of conditions along the shore line, harbors, rivers and islands within the territorial waters of the state in order to promote and encourage the healthful recreation of its citizens and with a view to devising and projecting economical and effective methods and works for preventing and correcting shore erosion and damage to public and private property therefrom and to prevent inundation of improved property by storms, erosion and ravages of the sea.