Section 12668 Of Article 2. Projects In The Sacramento-san Joaquin Watersheds From California Water Code >> Division 6. >> Part 6. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.
12668
. (a) The project for flood control on the San Joaquin River
is adopted and authorized substantially in accordance with P.L.
98-63, at a federal cost of approximately eight million dollars
($8,000,000), for the accomplishment of selective clearing and
snagging work in the San Joaquin Channel, from Friant Dam to the
Stockton Deep Water Channel, and in that area of the North Fork of
the Kings River and Mendota Pool from the southerly boundary of the
James Reclamation District No. 1606 to Mendota Dam. Because of the
unique situation presented by this project, the department shall
maintain and operate, on behalf of the state, the work performed by
the Corps of Engineers on this project, and the cost of that
maintenance and operation shall be borne by the state.
(b) Any assurance agreement entered into between the Secretary of
the Army and the Reclamation Board for this project shall provide for
mitigation of the impact of the project with the objective of
providing a net long-term enhancement of the riparian habitat and
fishery in the project area.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature, in reviewing future
projects, to improve the capacity of the San Joaquin River to provide
for mitigation of the impact of the project and net long-term
enhancement of the riparian habitats and fisheries in the project
area.
(d) The Legislature finds and declares that the local
responsibility of maintenance of this and future federal projects in
and along the San Joaquin River may be better, more efficiently, and
more fairly fulfilled by geographically larger, or regional, local
public entities. The Legislature, therefore, directs the Reclamation
Board, in coordination with the department, to study the possibility
of creating, by a joint powers agreement or by special act of the
Legislature, one or more regional districts to undertake at a future
time local maintenance responsibility for this project. The
Reclamation Board shall report its findings to the Legislature not
later than December 31, 1985.