Article 2. Maintenance And Operation of California Water Code >> Division 3. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 2.

Supervision over the maintenance and operation of dams and reservoirs insofar as necessary to safeguard life and property from injury by reason of the failure thereof is vested in the department.

The department may require owners to keep records of, and to report on, maintenance, operation, staffing, and engineering and geologic investigations and shall issue such rules and regulations and orders as necessary to secure maintenance and operation and to require staffing and engineering and geologic investigations which will safeguard life and property. In addition, the owner of a dam or reservoir or his agent shall fully and promptly advise the department of any sudden or unprecedented flood or unusual or alarming circumstance or occurrence affecting the dam or reservoir.

The department, from time to time, shall make inspections of dams and reservoirs at state expense for the purpose of determining their safety but shall require owners to perform at their expense such work as necessary to disclose information sufficient to enable the department to determine conditions of dams and reservoirs in regard to their safety and to perform at their expense other work necessary to secure maintenance and operation which will safeguard life and property.