Article 4. Declaration Of Intent of California Water Code >> Division 6. >> Part 6. >> Chapter 7.5. >> Article 4.

It is the intention of the Legislature that the department shall, whenever money has been appropriated for the purpose, initiate or participate in investigations, studies, plans and design criteria for construction of any project, or projects, deemed by the department to be practical, economically feasible and urgently needed to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. It is the further intention of the Legislature that upon the submission by any local agency, or agencies, to the department of plans and design criteria for any project, or projects, a review, evaluation and any necessary revision of such plans and design criteria shall be made by the department to insure that construction of such project, or projects, will accomplish the purposes of this chapter. It is the further intention of the Legislature that where a local agency, or agencies, has duly instituted a project, the department may provide technical assistance to the local agency. Any participation by the department shall be pursuant to a cooperative agreement between the department and local agency which clearly outlines the area of participation, the reporting procedure, and the maximum limitation upon cost. Funds for the technical assistance provided under this section shall be as set forth in the cooperative agreement with substantial participation or cost sharing, or both, by the local agency.

The results of the investigations and studies conducted and the plans and design criteria developed by the department pursuant to this article shall be transmitted to the State Water Resources Control Board and to the appropriate California regional water quality control boards for their consideration in the adoption of state policy for water quality control, water quality control plans and waste discharge requirements.

(a) The department, in conjunction with other public agencies, shall conduct an investigation of the state's groundwater basins. The department shall identify the state's groundwater basins on the basis of geological and hydrological conditions and consideration of political boundary lines whenever practical. The department shall also investigate existing general patterns of groundwater extraction and groundwater recharge within those basins to the extent necessary to identify basins that are subject to critical conditions of overdraft.
  (b) The department may revise the boundaries of groundwater basins identified in subdivision (a) based on its own investigations or information provided by others.
  (c) The department shall report its findings to the Governor and the Legislature not later than January 1, 2012, and thereafter in years ending in 5 or 0.