SECTIONS 12923-12924 - California Statutes

WATER CODE

SECTION 12923-12924

12923. It is the intention of the Legislature that the department
shall, whenever money has been appropriated for the purpose, initiate
or participate in investigations, studies, plans and design criteria
for construction of any project, or projects, deemed by the
department to be practical, economically feasible and urgently needed
to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
It is the further intention of the Legislature that upon the
submission by any local agency, or agencies, to the department of
plans and design criteria for any project, or projects, a review,
evaluation and any necessary revision of such plans and design
criteria shall be made by the department to insure that construction
of such project, or projects, will accomplish the purposes of this
chapter.
It is the further intention of the Legislature that where a local
agency, or agencies, has duly instituted a project, the department
may provide technical assistance to the local agency. Any
participation by the department shall be pursuant to a cooperative
agreement between the department and local agency which clearly
outlines the area of participation, the reporting procedure, and the
maximum limitation upon cost. Funds for the technical assistance
provided under this section shall be as set forth in the cooperative
agreement with substantial participation or cost sharing, or both, by
the local agency.

12923.1. The results of the investigations and studies conducted
and the plans and design criteria developed by the department
pursuant to this article shall be transmitted to the State Water
Resources Control Board and to the appropriate California regional
water quality control boards for their consideration in the adoption
of state policy for water quality control, water quality control
plans and waste discharge requirements.

12924. (a) The department, in conjunction with other public
agencies, shall conduct an investigation of the state's groundwater
basins. The department shall identify the state's groundwater basins
on the basis of geological and hydrological conditions and
consideration of political boundary lines whenever practical. The
department shall also investigate existing general patterns of
groundwater pumping and groundwater recharge within those basins to
the extent necessary to identify basins that are subject to critical
conditions of overdraft.
(b) The department shall report its findings to the Governor and
the Legislature not later than January 1, 2012, and thereafter in
years ending in 5 or 0.