AB 639: Dams: exceptions.

The bill aims to amend a section of the water code related to dams. A dam is defined as any artificial barrier that impounds or diverts water and meets specified criteria. The existing law excludes barriers that are 6 feet or less in height, regardless of storage capacity, and those with a storage capacity of 15 acre-feet or less, regardless of height. The bill would also exclude a type of weir, specifically those with a minimum of 3 feet of freeboard on the levee, but only applies to weirs named in the bill. The department of water resources is responsible for supervising the construction, maintenance, and operation of dams and reservoirs for protection of life and property.