This law allows California to adopt and authorize small flood control projects that are not directly approved by Congress. These projects are handled by the United States Corps of Engineers under a specific part of the 1948 Flood Control Act. The state's participation in funding these projects depends on recommendations from the Department of Water Resources and approval of estimated costs by the state legislature.

This law states that the state will only pay for land and associated rights needed for small flood control projects if the benefits outweigh the costs. The department must also find that the project's plan is the most cost-effective when considering all expenses, including construction and maintenance.

This law section requires that any local government or public district affected by a small flood control project must provide assurances to the Secretary of the Army. These assurances are about cooperating locally with what's needed for such projects, as outlined in the amended Flood Control Act of 1948. The local agency will work with the Department of the Army to implement the project and can change plans if necessary to meet the goals of flood control.