Section 12987 Of Part 9. Delta Levee Maintenance From California Water Code >> Division 6. >> Part 9.
12987
. (a) Local agencies maintaining project or nonproject levees
shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to this part upon
submission to and approval by the board of plans for the maintenance
and improvement of the project or nonproject levees, including plans
for the annual routine maintenance of the levees, in accordance with
the criteria adopted by the board.
(b) The nonproject plans shall also be compatible with the plan
for improvement of the delta levees as set forth in Bulletin No.
192-82 of the department, dated December 1982, and as approved in
Section 12225. Both project and nonproject plans shall include
provisions to acquire easements along levees that allow for the
control and reversal of subsidence in areas where the department
determines that such an easement is desirable to maintain structural
stability of the levee. The easement shall (1) restrict the use of
the land to open-space uses, nontillable crops, the propagation of
wildlife habitat, and other compatible uses, (2) provide full access
to the local agency for levee maintenance and improvement purposes,
and (3) allow the owner to retain reasonable rights of ingress and
egress as well as reasonable rights of access to the waterways for
water supply and drainage. The local agency cost of acquisition of
the easements shall be reimbursable by the department from moneys
appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section
12300, or any other sources appropriated by the Legislature for
purposes of this part.
(c) The plans shall also include provision for protection of the
fish and wildlife habitat determined to be necessary by the
Department of Fish and Game and not injurious to the integrity of the
levee. The Department of Fish and Game shall consider the value of
the riparian and fisheries habitat and the need to provide safe
levees in preparing its requirements. The Department of Fish and Game
shall not approve any plan which calls for the use of channel
islands or berms with significant riparian communities as borrow
sites for levee repair material, unless fully mitigated, or any plans
which will result in a net long-term loss of riparian, fisheries, or
wildlife habitat.
(d) After the memorandum of understanding required pursuant to
Section 12307 is amended as required by Section 78543, the Department
of Fish and Game shall also make a written determination as part of
its review and approval of a plan or project pursuant to Section
12314 and this section that the proposed expenditures are consistent
with a net long-term habitat improvement program and have a net
benefit for aquatic species in the delta. The memorandum of
understanding in effect prior to the amendments required by Section
78543 shall remain in effect with regard to levee projects and plans
until the memorandum of understanding is amended.
(e) The plans shall also take into account the most recently
updated Delta Master Recreation Plan prepared by the Resources
Agency.
(f) Upon approval of the plans by the board, the local agencies
shall enter into an agreement with the board to perform the
maintenance and improvement work, including the annual routine
maintenance work, specified in the plans. If applications for state
funding in any year exceed the state funds available, the board shall
apportion the funds among those levees or levee segments that are
identified by the department as most critical and beneficial,
considering the needs of flood control, water quality, recreation,
navigation, habitat improvements, and fish and wildlife.