ARTICLE 2. Cooperation With the United States [8615. - 8623.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 2.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8615. Section 8615.

The board may, in cooperation with the United States, adopt and carry out any plan or plans or project of flood control in the Sacramento or San Joaquin River Valleys or on or near the Sacramento River or the San Joaquin River or their tributaries and may exercise jurisdiction and authority in connection with such plans or projects inside or outside the drainage district.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8616. Section 8616.

It is the intent of this article to enlarge and extend the power, jurisdiction and authority of the board outside the drainage district to the extent set forth but not in any degree to limit, restrict or abridge any of the powers, jurisdiction or authority of the board.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8617. Section 8617.

The board may give assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of Defense of the United States that the state will do all of the following: (a) Provide, without cost to the United States, all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for the construction of the project under the adopted flood control plan, except as otherwise provided in that certain act passed by the Congress of the United States, approved June 22, 1936, and entitled “An act authorizing the construction of certain public works on rivers and harbors for flood control and other purposes” (Public Law No. 738, Seventy-fourth Congress). (b) Hold and save the United States free from damage due to the construction works. (c) Maintain and operate all the works after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. (d) Promise, agree, do, or perform any or all other things required or necessary under the provisions of the act of Congress approved June 22, 1936, or any acts amending or adding to that act, now or hereafter adopted.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8617.1. Section 8617.1.

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of Chapters 1 and 3 (commencing with Sections 12570 and 12800, respectively) of Part 6 of Division 6, the board may take any action and expend any available funds for the purpose of co-operating with the United States in carrying out the project for flood protection on the Sacramento River, as provided for and required under the provision of the act of Congress. Public Law 86-645, 86th Congress, approved July 14, 1960. Any reallocation of funds by the department for purposes described in this section shall be subject to the provisions of Section 12828. Prior to any appropriation of funds for the purposes described in this section, the board shall investigate and report to the Governor and Legislature on methods of feasible recovery from the beneficiaries of the work to be accomplished of that portion of the total nonfederal contribution in excess of costs of lands, easements, and rights-of-way and the liabilities which may be incurred due to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8617.5. Section 8617.5.

(a) In connection with any work done on projects authorized by the board in the repair or reconstruction of levees or other flood control works completed before June 30, 1957, the board may provide for and pay the cost of the relocation, reconstruction, or replacement of improvements, structures, or utilities that have actually existed and been in use for over 20 years, which has been rendered necessary by the work, unless payment would be contrary to any written authorization or agreement under which the improvement, structure, or utility was constructed or maintained. (b) This section shall not apply to the relocation, reconstruction, or replacement of improvements, structures, or utilities if the work has been financed, in whole or in part, with funds under the Flood Relief Law of 1956 (former Article 6 (commencing with Section 54150) of Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) or Public Law 81-875.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8618. Section 8618.

All political subdivisions, agencies of the State, and municipal and quasi-municipal corporations may make agreements with the board obligating themselves to do or perform those things which are required of the State, political subdivisions thereof, or other local agencies by the act of Congress approved June 22, 1936, or any acts amending or adding to it, now or hereafter adopted. When an elimination, modification, or alteration of any authorized plan of flood control is made at the request of a political subdivision, agency of the State, or municipal or quasi-municipal corporation, the political subdivision, agency of the State, or municipal or quasi-municipal corporation may, in agreements made pursuant to this section, assume responsibility for all claims of damage or liability made against the State and its agencies or the United States and arising from the requested elimination, modification, or alteration of the authorized plan of flood control.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8619. Section 8619.

In case any land, right of way, or easement is needed and is required to be provided free of cost to the State or the United States for any work of channel excavation, enlargement, rectification or control, or for the construction of any weir, which is a part of the plan and is to be done or constructed in whole or in part by the United States or by the State, the board may: (a) Acquire the land, right of way, or easement and cause it to be conveyed to the United States or to the State free of cost. (b) Cause the land, right of way, or easement to be condemned for the use and in the name of the United States or the State in the manner provided by the laws of this State or of the United States. (c) Pay the cost and expense of acquiring the land, right of way, or easement out of the funds of any assessment by the board applicable thereto. (d) If the land, right of way, or easement has been already acquired by the board in the name of the drainage district, the board may cause it to be conveyed by the district to the United States or to the State free of cost.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8620. Section 8620.

Whenever any work to be done by the board of the drainage district under any of the provisions of this part is such that it can be so done in connection with work of public improvement of rivers and harbors authorized by the United States as to bring it within the provisions of Section 4 of the United States River and Harbor Act, approved March 4, 1915, authorizing the receipt by the United States agencies of funds to be contributed for expenditures in connection with funds appropriated by the United States for such work, the funds under the control of the board and available for such work may be contributed by the board to the United States under the provisions of the act in order that the work may be done in the manner contemplated in the act.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8621. Section 8621.

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of Chapters 1 and 3 of Part 6 of Division 6, the board, with the approval of the Department of Finance, may, when a saving to the State will result, in lieu of acquiring all or any portion of the lands, easements, or rights of way, in connection with a flood control project, execute a substitute plan which includes provision for the State to construct works or contribute to the United States a portion of the construction cost of the flood control project when such works to be constructed by the board or the changes in the design of the project are made which, while resulting in new or added state expenditures for construction, will reduce the costs of the lands, easements or rights of way which otherwise might be required. Any funds heretofore or hereafter appropriated or allocated to the board for the acquisition of lands, easements, or rights of way may be used for the purposes specified in this section. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the board may negotiate with the United States and adopt on behalf of the State, any necessary revision of a project authorized by Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 6, but no money shall be expended pursuant to this section to meet the requirements of the United States for local cooperation in connection with such authorized project unless the United States agrees to accept the substitute plan as meeting the requirements for local cooperation.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8622. Section 8622.

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of Chapters 1 and 3 (commencing with Sections 12570 and 12800 respectively) of Part 6 of Division 6, the board may undertake immediate construction or reconstruction of a portion of a project at state expense, if the board determines that it is urgent to immediately construct or reconstruct a portion of an authorized flood control project because of damages resulting from the 1955–56 floods. Any funds heretofore or hereafter appropriated or allocated to the board for the acquisition of lands, easements, and rights of way may be used for the purposes specified in this section.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 8623. Section 8623.

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 12570) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12800) of Part 6 of Division 6, the board may plan, design, and construct flood relief structures or weirs and other structures or facilities essential for their proper functioning in the vicinity of the Sacramento River between Big Chico Creek and the north boundary of Glenn County Levee District No. 3, as needed to assure proper division of flood flows between the river and adjacent overflow areas and to preserve the integrity of the Sacramento River Flood Control Project. No revetment of the river bank may be installed pursuant to this section except to the extent necessary to assure the proper division of flood flows as described in this section. If any revetment is required under this section, it shall be accomplished by the palisades method, unless the department finds that method is not feasible.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026