Article 9. Arroyo Pasajero Watershed Program of California Water Code >> Division 26. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 9.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:
  (a) The Arroyo Pasajero Watershed incurred unprecedented flooding in 1995 that resulted in a loss of lives due to a bridge failure on Interstate Highway Route 5 (I-5).
  (b) Flooding in the watershed caused damage to important federal, state, and local public facilities, including the Lemoore Naval Air Station, Interstate Highway Route 5 (I-5), the California Aqueduct, and critical local roads and highways, as well as private property.
  (c) It is of statewide importance to undertake projects to eliminate future flooding in the watershed in order to protect life and property and to protect the drinking water supply of southern California.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in this section govern construction of this article.
  (a) "Subaccount" means the Arroyo Pasajero Watershed Subaccount created pursuant to Section 79069.4.
  (b) "Watershed" means the Arroyo Pasajero Watershed.

There is hereby created in the account the Arroyo Pasajero Watershed Subaccount. The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) is hereby transferred from the account to the subaccount for the purposes of this article.

The money in the subaccount, upon appropriation by the Legislature to the department, shall be used by the department for projects that improve flood protection for State Highway Route 269 in the area north of the City of Huron or improve flood control for the California Aqueduct in the area of the Arroyo Pasajero Crossing.

For the purposes of carrying out projects pursuant to this article, the department is encouraged to utilize the services of the California Conservation Corps or community conservation corps or both.

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

The department may adopt regulations to carry out this article.