Water Resource Department

The Department of Water Resources conducts ground water mapping and research, develops water supply studies and insures the safety of existing dams. It also regulates the construction of new dams, governs the canal systems and administers the state floodplain management program. The Department of Water Resources operates a division of flood management that handles flood forecasting, operations and emergency response activities. Its division of levee repairs and floodplain management office is responsible for administering programs that focus on reducing the loss of lives and damage to property through evaluation and direct rehabilitation of structural deficiencies. The department s the data exchange center installs, maintains, and operates a hydrologic data collection network, including automatic snow reporting gages.