Source: http://balmd.org/reclamation-levee-maintenance-district.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 14:29:44+00:00

Document:
Reclamation and levees districts are a type of special district, a "public" entity that "exercises certain governmental functions" within its boundaries. The governmental functions of such districts are generally to acquire, build and operate reclamation works, though they are also authorized to hire employees, incur debt, conduct elections, assess lands, execute contracts, sue or be sued, and acquire property. They are subject to all laws generally applicable to local districts, including the Brown Act (open public meetings), the Public Records Act, the Political Reform Act, the conflict of interest laws, and public bidding. As public entities, reclamation districts are also authorized to join with other entities that wish to share their "common powers" for a common purpose. Joint powers are typically exercised through a joint power agency, which is formed by an agreement of the members.
To govern its construction of the reclamation works, the district may adopt a plan of reclamation. Id. § 51000 et seq. The plan can include acquisition and improvement or operation of existing works. These plans, and any supplemental plans, must be reported to the county board of supervisors. Id. If the plan involves works within the boundaries of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Drainage District, the county must forward the plan to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board for hearing and approval, modification or rejection. Id. § 51020 et seq.
Historically, the Federal and State governments have cooperated to improve some of the flood control works built and maintained by local districts in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems, or to build new such works. To satisfy the conditions of Federal involvement in such projects, the State has agreed to operate and maintain the new or improved works. Under Section 8618 of the Water Code, reclamation and levee districts are in turn authorized to make agreements with the Central Valley Flood Protection Board to perform these actions instead of the State. For this limited purpose, reclamation and levee districts are sometimes called "local maintaining agencies."
A reclamation district is governed by a board of trustees, who exercise "general supervision and complete control over the construction, maintenance and operation of the reclamation works, and generally over the affairs of the district." Water Code § 50652. Trustees must be district landowners or agents of district landowners, and they serve four-year terms. Trustees are elected to office by district landowners and residents. The trustees may be compensated for services performed, though if compensation is paid the trustees must receive training in ethics every two years.
Districts are generally funded by assessments and/or fees and charges. Assessments are a levy against district lands that receive special benefits from operation of the district works. Assessments may be used to pay for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of reclamation works. Assessments are considered a lien against the benefited property, and the property can be sold to pay delinquent assessments. Since 1997, new or increased assessments may be imposed only if proportional to the special benefits provided, supported by a detailed engineer's report, and approved by a majority vote of the affected landowners. Districts may also charge for provision of water or for other services, including drainage. In addition, reclamation districts in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta are eligible to receive reimbursements for flood control work under the Delta Levee Maintenance Program (commonly referred to as the Subventions Program) and the Delta Levees Program.
Liability for damage of property occurring in association with the failure of flood control works is a complex subject. As declared by the California Supreme Court, a "public agency that undertakes to construct or operate a flood control project clearly must not be made the absolute insurer of those lands provided protection." The California Tort Claims Act, Gov't Code Section § 810 et seq., provides broad statutory immunity from most types of suits seeking money damages against public entities. A district could potentially be held liable in inverse condemnation for damages resulting from a plan of flood control that is held unreasonable based on application of numerous balancing factors, and in one highly publicized case, the Court of Appeal held that a reclamation district, if tasked merely with maintaining the levees, cannot be held liable for design deficiencies.
1 Hershey v. Reclamation Dist. No. 108, 200 Cal. 550, 567–68 (1927).
2 Dean v. Davis, 51 Cal. 406, 410 (1876).
3 Belair v. Riverside County Flood Control Dist., 47 Cal.3d 550, 565 (1988).
4 See generally Tilton v. Reclamation Dist. No. 800, 142 Cal.App.4th 848 (2006).
5. Paterno v. State, 113 Cal.App.4th 998, 1034 (2003).

References: § 51000
 § 51020
 § 50652
 § 810
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