Cal. WAT § 6102

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The Division of Safety of Dams as part of the department inspects and reevaluates its jurisdictional dams and reservoirs for the purpose of determining their safety.

(b) Globally and nationally, there is recognition that, as with all aging infrastructure, there is an unmet need regarding dam maintenance and repairs. California needs to continue to lead efforts to address these unmet needs, and improve upon standards set by regulatory agencies to ensure public safety.

(c) In order to ensure the safe operation of dams and to maintain public confidence in dam safety, the Division of Safety of Dams must inspect dams within its jurisdiction once per fiscal year with the exception of low hazard potential dams which will receive inspections every two fiscal years at a minimum. California’s dam safety procedures must stay on par with, or ahead of, best practices and must continually update those procedures based on the best available knowledge.

(d) In order to ensure that the practices of the Division of Safety of Dams continue to reflect the best available knowledge, and in light of the recommendations arising from the independent Forensic Team’s review of the Oroville Dam spillway incident, the Division must consult with independent dam safety and dam safety risk management organizations to propose additions to the Division’s existing dam safety program in order to incorporate updated best practices to ensure public safety, as set forth in Section 6103.