Wat. Code, § 9601

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The Central Valley of California is experiencing unprecedented development, resulting in the conversion of historically agricultural lands and communities to densely populated residential and urban centers.

(b) The Legislature recognizes that by their nature, levees, which are earthen embankments typically founded on fluvial deposits, cannot offer complete protection from flooding, but can decrease its frequency.

(c) The Legislature recognizes that the level of flood protection afforded rural and agricultural lands by the original flood control system would not be adequate to protect those lands if they are developed for urban uses, and that a dichotomous system of flood protection for urban and rural lands has developed through many years of practice.

(d) The Legislature further recognizes that levees built to reclaim and protect agricultural land may be inadequate to protect urban development unless those levees are significantly improved.

(e) Cities and counties rely upon federal flood plain information when approving developments, but the information available is often out of date and the flood risk may be greater than that indicated using available federal information.

(f) The Legislature recognizes that the current federal flood standard is not sufficient in protecting urban and urbanizing areas within flood prone areas throughout the Central Valley.

(g) Linking land use decisions to flood risk and flood protection estimates comprises only one element of improving lives and property in the Central Valley. Federal, state, and local agencies may construct and operate flood protection facilities to reduce flood risks, but flood risks will nevertheless remain for those who choose to reside in Central Valley flood plains. Making those flood risks more apparent will help ensure that Californians make careful choices when deciding whether to build homes or live in Central Valley flood plains, and if so, whether to prepare for flooding or maintain flood insurance.