State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > California > Wat > 10754-10754.3WATER CODE
SECTION 10754-10754.3
10754. For purposes of groundwater management, a local agency that adopts a groundwater management plan pursuant to this part has the authority of a water replenishment district pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 60220) of Division 18 and may fix and collect fees and assessments for groundwater management in accordance with Part 6 (commencing with Section 60300) of Division 18. 10754.2. (a) Subject to Section 10754.3, except as specified in subdivision (b), a local agency that adopts a groundwater management plan pursuant to this part, may impose equitable annual fees and assessments for groundwater management based on the amount of groundwater extracted from the groundwater basin within the area included in the groundwater management plan to pay for costs incurred by the local agency for groundwater management, including, but not limited to, the costs associated with the acquisition of replenishment water, administrative and operating costs, and costs of construction of capital facilities necessary to implement the groundwater management plan. (b) The local agency may not impose fees or assessments on the extraction and replacement of groundwater pursuant to a groundwater remediation program required by other provisions of law or a groundwater storage contract with the local agency. 10754.3. Before a local agency may levy a water management assessment pursuant to Section 10754.2 or otherwise fix and collect fees for the replenishment or extraction of groundwater pursuant to this part, the local agency shall hold an election on the proposition of whether or not the local agency shall be authorized to levy a groundwater management assessment or fix and collect fees for the replenishment or extraction of groundwater. The local agency shall be so authorized if a majority of the votes cast at the election is in favor of the proposition. The election shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by the laws applicable to the local agency or, if there are no laws so applicable, then as prescribed by laws relating to local elections. The election shall be conducted only within the portion of the jurisdiction of the local agency subject to groundwater management pursuant to this part.