Flood risk: dam failure: expedited permit processing and approval: human life safety protection.

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 of Water Resources to perform various flood control activities throughout the state. Existing law establishes the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and authorizes the board to engage in various flood control activities along the Sacramento River, the San Joaquin River, their tributaries, and related areas. Existing law also authorizes the board of supervisors of a county to appropriate and spend money from the general fund of the county for specified flood control purposes in connection with streams or rivers in the county. This bill would require a state agency to expedite permit processing and approval for a project that will maintain or improve human life safety protection through flood risk reduction or reduction of a risk of dam failure, as specified. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.