Wat. Code, § 12983

The Legislature further finds and declares that there is an urgent need for a higher degree of levee maintenance and rehabilitation generally throughout the delta and that the state has an interest in providing technical and financial assistance for delta levee maintenance and rehabilitation.

The Legislature also finds and declares that, because of the instability of delta soils, the effect of winds, tides, and floodflows, and the unique problems of erosion, seepage, and subsidence, the same security against levee failure and flooding cannot be achieved by protective works in the delta as in areas less vulnerable to these problems. Although the rehabilitation and maintenance of delta levees is an important undertaking, a significant risk of levee failure will still persist.

The purpose of the state’s approval of plans and inspection of works, which duties are set forth in this part, is to ensure that subvention funds are properly expended and that delta levees are effectively rehabilitated and maintained, and the state does not thereby assume any responsibility for the safety of any delta levee against failure.