Section § 80145

Explanation

This law section allocates $550 million for flood protection and repair projects, subject to legislative approval. The Department of Water Resources will receive $350 million for flood protection and levee improvements mainly in the Central Valley, with $50 million specifically for repairs in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It also sets aside $300 million for projects that improve public safety and enhance fish and wildlife. Another $100 million is earmarked for stormwater and mudslide protection, and $100 million is set aside for multibenefit projects dealing with urban flooding. Beneficiaries of these funds must sometimes provide matching funds, especially when not serving disadvantaged communities. Importantly, the funds cannot be used for Delta conveyance facilities; those costs fall on the benefiting water agencies.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 80145(a) The sum of five hundred fifty million dollars ($550,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for flood protection and repair.
(1)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 80145(a)(1)
(A)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 80145(a)(1)(A) Of the funds available pursuant to this subdivision, three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Water Resources for flood protection facilities, levee improvements, and related investments that protect persons and property from flood damage in the Central Valley. The Department of Water Resources may require that moneys provided under this paragraph be matched by local and regional public agencies.
(B)CA Public Resources Code § 80145(a)(1)(A)(B) Of the amount subject to this paragraph, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for levee repairs and restoration within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
(C)CA Public Resources Code § 80145(a)(1)(A)(C) Of the amount subject to this paragraph, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available for multibenefit projects that achieve public safety improvements and measurable fish and wildlife enhancement. The Department of Water Resources shall coordinate the expenditure of multibenefit funds with the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, levee setbacks, creation or enhancement of flood plains or bypasses, groundwater recharge projects in flood plains, and land acquisition and easements necessary for these projects.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 80145(a)(2) Of the funds available pursuant to this subdivision, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for the purposes of stormwater, mudslide, and other flash-flood-related protections.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 80145(a)(3) Of the amount made available pursuant to this subdivision, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for the purposes of multibenefit projects in urbanized areas to address flooding. Eligible projects shall include, but are not limited to, stormwater capture and reuse, planning and implementation of low-impact development, restoration of urban streams and watersheds, and increasing permeable surfaces to help reduce flooding.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 80145(a)(4) Funding made available pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) shall support projects that protect persons and property from flood damage. Unless the project has been identified as serving a disadvantaged community, an entity that receives an award pursuant to paragraphs (2) or (3) shall be required to provide a match of 25 percent as a local share.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 80145(b) Funds provided by this chapter shall not be expended to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities. Those costs shall be the responsibility of the water agencies that benefit from the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of those facilities.