Article 1. General Provisions of California Water Code >> Division 6. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 1.

For the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating the project and for the purpose of providing and substituting new facilities for facilities to be taken or destroyed, the department may acquire for and in the name of the state, by gift, exchange, purchase, or eminent domain proceedings, within or without the state, any and all water, water rights, rights-of-way, easements, land, electric power, power resources and facilities, and property or appurtenances thereto of every kind and description and any appurtenances to any such property as the department determines to be required and necessary for the proper construction, maintenance, and operation of the project and for effectuating the purposes and objects to be accomplished by the construction, maintenance, and operation of the project, and for providing and substituting new facilities for facilities taken or destroyed.

The cost of contruction of the project includes the cost and expense of acquiring property and any such cost and expense is an integral part of the capital cost of the project.

Nothing in this chapter shall in any way interfere with or abridge the right of the department or of any state agency to acquire any property through the exercise of the right of eminent domain.

In any lease, easement, or right of entry agreement entered into whereby the department leases real property or obtains a grant of easement, right-of-way, or right of entry in real property for the purpose of exploration for, or construction, operation, or maintenance of, water projects, or for other investigations or data collection, the department may agree to indemnify and hold harmless the lessor or grantor and may agree to repair or pay for any damage caused by reason of the uses authorized by such lease, easement, right-of-way or right of entry. Insurance may be purchased by the Department of General Services, upon request of the department, to protect the department against loss or expense arising out of such a lease, easement, right-of-way, or right of entry.