LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeWater CodeDiv. 5Pt. 4Ch. 1Art. 2§ 8539 Channel Clearing Cooperation

§ 8539 Channel Clearing Cooperation

Water Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 8539 Channel Clearing Cooperation

Key Takeaways

  • •The law says that California's rivers have too many fallen trees and junk (called 'snags') that block the water and hurt the river banks.
  • •The government and local groups can work together to clean up these rivers, like the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers.
  • •They can share money, tools, and workers to get the job done.
  • •They must talk to other important groups, like the Department of Fish and Game, before doing the work.

Example

A big tree falls into a river and blocks the water, making the river overflow and damage nearby farms.

The law allows the government and local groups to team up, remove the tree, and fix the river to stop the flooding.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8539 Channel Clearing Cooperation

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there is an urgent need for channel clearing and desnagging in many California waterways, and that these snags pose a severe danger and cause unnecessary erosion of banks. The board, other state agencies, cities, counties, and districts are hereby authorized to cooperate with one another and with agencies of the United States in the performance of channel clearing and desnagging work within the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and their tributaries, and may furnish money, services, equipment, and other property to that end. The board, as appropriate, shall consult with the Department of Water Resources, the State Lands Commission, and the Department of Fish and Game in carrying out its responsibilities pursuant to this section. (Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 795, Sec. 1. Effective September 8, 1982.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

channel clearing and desnaggingSacramento and San Joaquin Rivers

Related Statutes

  • § 8525 Flood Control And Land Reclamation
  • § 8533 Levee And Flood Protection
  • § 11125 Central Valley Project Authorization
  • § 11126 Public Project Welfare Benefits
  • § 11127 Governmental Function Authority

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 8539.
View Official Source