Article 8. Yuba Feather Flood Protection Program of California Water Code >> Division 26. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 8.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in this section govern the construction of this article.
  (a) "Nonstructural improvements" are projects that are intended to reduce or eliminate susceptibility to flooding by preserving or increasing the flood-carrying capacity of floodways, and include such measures as levees, setback levees, floodproofing structures, and zoning, designating, or acquiring flood prone areas.
  (b) "Structural improvements" are projects that are intended to modify flood patterns and rely primarily on constructed components, and include such measures as levees, floodwalls, and improved channels.
  (c) "Subaccount" means the Yuba Feather Flood Protection Subaccount created by Section 79068.2.

There is hereby created in the account the Yuba Feather Flood Protection Subaccount.

The sum of ninety million dollars ($90,000,000) is hereby transferred from the account to the subaccount for the purposes of implementing this article.

Seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) in the subaccount, upon appropriation by the Legislature to the department or Reclamation Board, shall be used by the department or Reclamation Board to fund one or more of the following flood protection projects to be implemented by a local public entity that has legal authority and jurisdiction to implement a flood control program along the Yuba and Feather Rivers and their tributaries:
  (a) The construction or improvements of weirs, bypasses, and channels.
  (b) The construction of levees or improving publicly maintained levees, including, but not limited to, setback levees, training walls, floodwalls, and streambank protection projects, which provide flood protection or flood damage reduction.
  (c) The modification or reoperation of existing dams and waterworks, including spillways or other capital outlay facilities, for the purpose of increased efficiency in managing flood waters.
  (d) The installation of tailwater suppression systems, detention basins, relief wells, test wells, flood warning systems, and telemetry devices.
  (e) The relocation or floodproofing of structures within floodplains, which meet or exceed a community's floodplain regulations, pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Program.
  (f) Implementation of watershed projects, which provide flood protection or flood damage reduction.
  (g) The construction of, or improvement to, a state or interstate highway, county road, or a levee road, that is designated a flood emergency evacuation route, or that provides access to a levee for emergency vehicles, flood fights, or levee repair and maintenance, or a project that protects such a road or highway.
  (h) The purchase of lands, easements, and rights-of-way.
  (i) Capital costs of environmental mitigation.

No expenditures of state funds may be made under this article until the department or the Reclamation Board determines that all of the following requirements have been met:
  (a) There is a final environmental document prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (commencing with Section 21000 of the Public Resources Code).
  (b) The project is in compliance with the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code), as demonstrated by documentation such as comments received from the Department of Fish and Game, a permit obtained from the Department of Fish and Game or other appropriate evidence.
  (c) The local project proponent agrees to pay at least that portion of the nonfederal capital costs of the project required by Section 12585.5.
  (d) The local project proponent agrees to operate and maintain the completed project.
  (e) The local project proponent enters into an agreement indemnifying and holding the state, its agencies, officers and employees free and harmless from any and all liability arising out of the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the project.
  (f) The project is recommended for implementation by the department or the Reclamation Board.

All of the following factors shall be considered by the department and the Reclamation Board for prioritizing projects:
  (a) Potential loss of life from flooding.
  (b) Increased flood protection or flood damage reduction for areas that have the greatest flood risk or have experienced repetitive flood loss.
  (c) The local community is a small community with financial hardship.
  (d) Projects that provide multiple benefits.
  (e) Projects that are implemented in accordance with the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Basins Comprehensive Study.
  (f) Projects that are implemented pursuant to the completion of feasibility studies conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers or local agencies.
  (g) Projects along the Yuba and Feather Rivers and their tributaries.
  (h) Projects that address regional flood problems.
  (i) Projects along the Colusa Drain and its tributaries.
  (j) Minimizing impacts to the environment.

Of the fund appropriated pursuant to Section 79068.6, two million six hundred thousand dollars ($2,600,000) in the subaccount shall be used for the local share of levee repairs and enhancements in Sutter County.

(a) Twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in the subaccount, upon appropriation to the Department of Fish and Game, may be used by that department, if it determines that any flood control project undertaken pursuant to this article would result in a reduction of, or damage to, fish, wildlife, or riparian habitat, to protect, improve, restore, create, or enhance fish, wildlife, and riparian habitat of a comparable type to that which was reduced or damaged.
  (b) Any land acquired pursuant to this section shall be acquired from willing sellers.

If all of the funds appropriated pursuant to Section 79068.6 are encumbered, and any funds described in Section 79068.14 are not needed for the purposes of that section, as stated in writing by that department to the Legislature, the Legislature may appropriate the funds not needed for the purposes of Section 79068.14 for the purposes of Article 4 (commencing with Section 79055).

Not more than 5 percent of the total amount deposited in the subaccount may be used to pay the costs incurred in connection with the administration of this chapter.

The department and the Reclamation Board may adopt regulations to carry out this article.