Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79703. Section 79703.
An amount that equals not more than 5 percent of the funds allocated for a grant program pursuant to this division may be used to pay the administrative costs of that program.
CHAPTER 4. General Provisions [79703. - 79716.5.]
Cal. Water Code - WAT 4.
in effectCal. Water Code - WAT § 79704. Section 79704.
Unless otherwise specified, up to 10 percent of funds allocated for each program funded by this division may be expended for planning and monitoring necessary for the successful design, selection, and implementation of the projects authorized under that program. This section shall not otherwise restrict funds ordinarily used by an agency for “preliminary plans,” “working drawings,” and “construction” as defined in the annual Budget Act for a capital outlay project or grant project. Water
quality monitoring data shall be collected and reported to the state board in a manner that is compatible and consistent with surface water monitoring data systems or groundwater monitoring data systems administered by the state board. Watershed monitoring data shall be collected and reported to the Department of Conservation in a manner that is compatible and consistent with the statewide watershed program administered by the Department of Conservation.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79705. Section 79705.
Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the development or implementation of programs or projects authorized or funded under this division other than Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 79750).
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79706. Section 79706.
(a)
Prior to disbursing grants or loans pursuant to this division, each state agency that receives an appropriation from the funding made available by this division to administer a competitive grant or loan program under this division shall develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines. The guidelines shall include monitoring and reporting requirements and may include a limitation on the dollar amount of grants or loans to be awarded. If the state
agency has previously developed and adopted project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that comply with the requirements of this subdivision, it may use those guidelines.
(b)
Prior to disbursing grants or loans, the state agency shall conduct three public meetings to consider public comments prior to finalizing the guidelines. The state agency shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its Internet Web site at least 30 days before the public meetings. One meeting shall be conducted at a location in northern California, one meeting shall be conducted at a location in the central valley of California, and one meeting shall be conducted at a location in southern California. Upon adoption, the state agency shall transmit copies of the guidelines to the fiscal committees and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79707. Section 79707.
It is the intent of the people that:
(a)
The investment of public funds pursuant to this division will result in public benefits that address the most critical statewide needs and priorities for public funding.
(b)
In the appropriation and expenditure of funding authorized by this division, priority will be given to projects that leverage private, federal, or
local funding or produce the greatest public benefit.
(c)
A funded project advances the purposes of the chapter from which the project received funding.
(d)
In making decisions regarding water resources, state and local water agencies will use the best available science to inform those decisions.
(e)
Special consideration will be given to projects that employ new or innovative technology or practices, including decision support tools that support the integration of multiple jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, water supply, flood control, land use, and sanitation.
(f)
Evaluation of projects considered for funding pursuant to this division will include review by professionals in the fields relevant to the proposed project.
(g)
To the extent practicable, a project supported by funds made available by this division will include signage informing the public that the project received funds from the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014.
(h)
Projects funded with proceeds from this division will be consistent with Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of this code and Section 13100 of the Government Code.
(i)
Projects funded with proceeds from this division will promote state planning priorities consistent with the provisions of Section 65041.1 of the Government Code and sustainable communities strategies consistent with the provisions of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 65080 of the Government Code, to the extent feasible.
(j)
California’s working agricultural and forested landscapes will be preserved wherever possible. To the extent feasible, watershed objectives included in this division should be achieved through use of conservation easements and voluntary landowner participation, including, but not limited to, the use of easements pursuant to Division 10.2 (commencing with Section 10200) and Division 10.4 (commencing with Section 10330) of the Public Resources Code and voluntary habitat credit exchange mechanisms.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79708. Section 79708.
(a)
The Department of Finance shall provide for an independent audit of expenditures pursuant to this division. The secretary shall publish a list of all program and project expenditures pursuant to this division not less than annually, in written form, and shall post an electronic form of the list on the Natural Resources Agency’s Internet Web site.
(b)
If an audit, required by statute, of any entity
that receives funding authorized by this division is conducted pursuant to state law and reveals any impropriety, the California State Auditor or the Controller may conduct a full audit of any or all of the activities of that entity.
(c)
The state agency issuing any grant or loan with funding authorized by this division shall require adequate reporting of the expenditures of the funding from the grant or loan.
(d)
Prior to soliciting projects pursuant to this division, state agencies shall submit guidelines to the secretary. The secretary shall verify that the guidelines are consistent with applicable statutes and for all the purposes enumerated in this division. The secretary shall post an electronic form of the guidelines submitted by state agencies and the subsequent verifications on the Natural Resources Agency’s Internet Web site.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79708.5. Section 79708.5.
In addition to the information required pursuant to Section 79708, in order to facilitate oversight of funding and projects, the secretary shall post on the Natural Resources Agency’s Internet Web site information on changes to project timelines and project spending.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79709. Section 79709.
(a)
Funds expended pursuant to this division for the acquisition of a permanent dedication of water shall be in accordance with Section 1707 where the state board specifies that the water is in addition to water that is required for regulatory requirements as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 1707. The expenditure of funds provided by this division may include the initiation of the dedication as a short term or temporary urgency change, that is approved in
accordance with Section 1707 and either Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 1435) of, or Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 1725) of, Part 2 of Division 2, during the period required to prepare any environmental documentation and for approval of permanent dedication.
(b)
Funds expended pursuant to this division for the acquisition of long-term transfers of water shall be transfers in accordance with Sections 1735, 1736, and 1737 if the state board, after providing notice and opportunity for a hearing, approves such a petition. Funds expended pursuant to this division shall prioritize permanent transfers. Long-term transfers shall be for a period of not less than 20 years, except for any water transfers for the benefit of subsection (d) of Section 3406 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Title 34 of Public Law 102-575).
(c)
Funds expended pursuant to this division
for any acquisition of water shall only be done pursuant to this section and shall only be used for projects that will provide fisheries or ecosystem benefits or improvements that are greater than required applicable environmental mitigation measures or compliance obligations in effect at the time the funds from this division are made available for the project and funds shall not be credited to any measures or obligations, except for any water transfers for the benefit of subsection (d) of Section 3406 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Title 34 of Public Law 102-575).
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79710. Section 79710.
(a)
Funds provided by this division 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.
(b)
To the extent feasible, in implementing subdivision (k) of
Section 79731, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy shall seek to achieve wildlife conservation objectives through projects on public lands or voluntary projects on private lands. Funds available to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 79731 may be used, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, for payments to landowners for the creation of measurable habitat improvements or other improvements to the condition of endangered or threatened species. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy may develop and implement a competitive program for habitat enhancements that maximizes voluntary landowner participation in projects that provide measurable and long-lasting habitat or species improvements in the Delta. These funds shall not be used to subsidize or decrease the mitigation obligations of any party.
(c)
In implementing subdivision (k) of Section 79731, the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta Conservancy shall coordinate and consult with the city or county in which a grant is proposed to be expended or an interest in real property is proposed to be acquired and with the Delta Protection Commission. Acquisitions by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 79731 shall be from willing sellers only.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79711. Section 79711.
(a)
This division does not diminish, impair, or otherwise affect in any manner whatsoever any area of origin, watershed of origin, county of origin, or any other water rights protections, including, but not limited to, rights to water appropriated prior to December 19, 1914, provided under the law. This division does not limit or affect the application of Article 1.7 (commencing with Section 1215) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 2, Sections 10505, 10505.5, 11128,
11460, 11461, 11462, and 11463, and Sections 12200 to 12220, inclusive.
(b)
For the purposes of this division, an area that utilizes water that has been diverted and conveyed from the Sacramento River hydrologic region, for use outside the Sacramento River hydrologic region or the Delta, shall not be deemed to be immediately adjacent thereto or capable of being conveniently supplied with water therefrom by virtue or on account of the diversion and conveyance of that water through facilities that may be constructed for that purpose after January 1, 2014.
(c)
Nothing in this division supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the applicability of Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1700) of Part 2 of Division 2, including petitions related to any new conveyance constructed or operated in accordance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 85320) of Part 4 of Division 35.
(d)
Unless otherwise expressly provided, nothing in this division supersedes, reduces, or otherwise affects existing legal protections, both procedural and substantive, relating to the state board’s regulation of diversion and use of water, including, but not limited to, water right priorities, the protection provided to municipal interests by Sections 106 and 106.5, and changes in water rights. Nothing in this division expands or otherwise alters the state board’s existing authority to regulate the diversion and use of water or the courts’ existing concurrent jurisdiction over California water rights.
(e)
Nothing in this division shall be construed to affect the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Chapter 1.4 (commencing with Section 5093.50) of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code) or the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1271 et seq.) and funds authorized
pursuant to this division shall not be available for any project that could have an adverse effect on the values upon which a wild and scenic river or any other river is afforded protections pursuant to the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act or the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
(f)
Nothing in this division supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009 (Division 35 (commencing with Section 85000)) or any other applicable law, including, but not limited to, Division 22.3 (commencing with Section 32300) of the Public Resources Code.
(g)
Funds provided by this division shall not be used to acquire land via eminent domain.
(h)
Notwithstanding any other law, any agency acquiring land pursuant to this division may use the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act
of 2000 (Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000) of the Public Resources Code).
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79712. Section 79712.
(a)
Eligible applicants under this division are public agencies, nonprofit organizations, public utilities, federally recognized Indian tribes, state Indian tribes listed on the Native American Heritage Commission’s California Tribal Consultation List, and mutual water companies.
(b)
(1)
To be eligible for funding under this division, a project proposed by a public utility that is
regulated by the Public Utilities Commission or a mutual water company shall have a clear and definite public purpose and shall benefit the customers of the water system and not the investors.
(2)
To be eligible for funding under this division, an urban water supplier shall adopt and submit an urban water management plan in accordance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) of Division 6).
(3)
To be eligible for funding under this division, an agricultural water supplier shall adopt and submit an agricultural water management plan in accordance with the Agricultural Water Management Planning Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 10800) of Division 6).
(4)
In accordance with Section 10608.56, an agricultural water supplier or an urban water supplier is ineligible for
funding under this division unless it complies with the requirements of Part 2.55 (commencing with Section 10608) of Division 6.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79713. Section 79713.
The Legislature may enact legislation necessary to implement programs funded by this division, except as otherwise provided in Section 79760.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79714. Section 79714.
(a)
Unless otherwise specified, any state agency that has the statutory authority to implement one or more of the purposes specified in this bond may be eligible for appropriations from the funding made available by this division.
(b)
Funding made available by this division shall not be appropriated by the Legislature to a specific project.
(c)
Projects funded pursuant to this division may use the services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5 of the Public Resources Code.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79715. Section 79715.
The proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division shall be deposited in the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Fund of 2014, which is hereby created in the State Treasury.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79716. Section 79716.
Each state agency that receives an appropriation of funding made available by this division shall be responsible for establishing metrics of success and reporting the status of projects and all uses of the funding on the state’s bond accountability Internet Web site, as provided by statute.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79716.5. Section 79716.5.
Each state agency that receives an appropriation of funding made available by this division shall do the following:
(a)
Evaluate the outcomes of projects funded by this division.
(b)
Include in the agency’s reporting pursuant to Section 79716 the evaluation described in subdivision (a).
(c)
Hold a grantee of funds accountable for completing projects funded by this division on time and within scope.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026