SECTIONS 12840-12842 - California Statutes

WATER CODE

SECTION 12840-12842

12840. Notwithstanding any other provisions of Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 12639) and Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 12800), the policy set forth in this chapter shall apply to
watershed protection and flood prevention projects under Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 12850), to small watershed projects approved
by the State Conservationist of the United States Department of
Agriculture, to small flood control projects authorized by Section
12750, and to flood control projects authorized by Congress and
adopted and authorized by the Legislature pursuant to Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 12639). It is not the intent of this chapter
to affect the responsibility for the maintenance and operation of
those projects pursuant to the applicable provisions of law.

12841. The Legislature finds and declares that in order to protect
the general health and welfare of the public it is necessary to
provide for the preservation and enhancement of the state's fish and
wildlife resources in connection with flood control and watershed
protection projects and to realize the full potential of such
projects to provide recreational opportunities to the general public.
The Legislature further finds and declares that in order to
enhance the general public health and welfare it is necessary that
all flood control and watershed protection projects be designed,
constructed, and operated so as to realize their full potential for
the enhancement of the state's fish and wildlife resources and to
provide recreational opportunities to the general public. The
Legislature further finds and declares that the realization of fish
and wildlife enhancement opportunities and the provision of
recreational opportunities is of benefit to all of the people of
California and that a portion of the costs of realizing these
benefits from federal flood control and watershed protection projects
should be borne by them.
The Legislature further finds and declares that fish and wildlife
enhancement and recreational development should be among the purposes
of all federal flood control and watershed protection projects and
that opportunities to attain these benefits should be realized
concurrently with the realization of benefits from other project
purposes.

12842. The Legislature further finds and declares that it is the
intent of the Legislature that the planning and construction of all
flood control and watershed protection projects shall include such
features as may be determined to be necessary and desirable to
preserve and enhance the state's fish and wildlife resources and to
achieve the full utilization of such projects for recreational
purposes consistent with the construction and operation of such
projects to protect life and property.