Wat. Code, § 12950

It is declared to be the responsibility of the State of California to assist local governments in providing certain essential services and facilities where water resource construction projects financed, in whole or in part, by the State or by the State jointly with the federal government create an undue burden on a local area’s ability to provide these services and facilities. State responsibility for providing financial assistance under such circumstances includes the following: police and fire protection, public health and hospitals, sanitation, emergency and indigent relief, and such other activities for which there is a demonstrated urgent need and which are approved by the State Department of Finance and the State Department of Water Resources.