Plain English Breakdown
The official summary does not provide a detailed dictionary definition for 'weir,' so the meaning is limited to its context in this bill.
AB-639: New Exceptions for What Counts as a Dam
This law adds an exception to the definition of a dam for specific weirs that do not hold water above the top of a levee and have at least 3 feet of freeboard.
What This Bill Does
- Adds a new exception to the legal definition of a dam.
- Excludes certain barriers called weirs from being classified as dams if they meet specific safety rules.
- Requires that these weirs must not hold water above the top of an existing levee.
- Mandates at least 3 feet of freeboard, or empty space, on the levee behind the barrier.
- Limits this new exception only to specific weirs named directly in the bill.
Who It Names or Affects
- Owners and builders of barriers that fit the description of a weir listed in the law.
- The Department of Water Resources, which supervises dam safety.
Terms To Know
- Weir
- A specific type of barrier defined in this bill that can be excluded from being called a dam if it meets certain rules.
- Freeboard
- The empty space, measured as at least 3 feet, between the top of a levee and the highest water level behind the barrier.
Limits and Unknowns
- This exception applies only to weirs specifically named in the bill text.
- The law does not change rules for barriers that hold water higher than the top of a levee.
- Existing exceptions still apply, such as barriers under 6 feet high or holding less than 15 acre-feet.