Dams and reservoirs.

Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to supervise the maintenance and operation of dams and reservoirs as necessary to safeguard life and property. Existing law requires the department, in determining whether or not a dam or reservoir or proposed dam or reservoir constitutes or would constitute a danger to life or property, to take into consideration the possibility that the dam or reservoir might be endangered by conditions that exist or that might occur in any area in the vicinity of the dam or reservoir. Under existing law, whenever the department deems that a condition endangers a dam or reservoir, the department is required to order the owner to take action as the department determines to be necessary to remove the resultant danger to life and property. This bill would require the department, as soon as possible, to order the owner to take action. Existing law establishes the Dam Safety Fund and requires all fees, penalties, interest, fines, or charges collected by the department under provisions relating to the supervision of dam safety to be deposited into the fund. Existing law provides that the moneys in the fund are available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the administration of the dam safety program. This bill would continuously appropriate the moneys in the fund to the department for that purpose.