Any screen installed under any of the provisions of this article shall be reasonably adequate to prevent fish from passing into the conduit and not unnecessarily impede the flow of water or prevent the owner from diverting the amount of water he is legally entitled to divert.

The type, size, mesh, and location of the screen and the time within which it shall be installed shall be mutually agreed upon by the department and the owner of the conduit. In the event the department and the owner of the conduit cannot agree upon the type, size, mesh, and location of the screen and the time within which it shall be installed, such matters shall be submitted for determination to the Department of Water Resources whose decision thereon shall be final and conclusive.

Terms Used In California Fish and Game Code 5992

  • Conduit: includes pipe, millrace, ditch, flume, siphon, tunnel, canal, and any other conduit or diversion used for the purpose of taking or receiving water from any river, creek, stream, or lake. See California Fish and Game Code 5900
  • Department: means the Department of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 37
  • Fish: means a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian, or part, spawn, or ovum of any of those animals. See California Fish and Game Code 45
  • Owner: includes the United States (except that for the purpose of Sections 5901, 5931, 5933, and 5938, "owner" does not include the United States as to any dam in the condition the dam existed on September 15, 1945), the State, a person, political subdivision, or district (other than a fish and game district) owning, controlling or operating a dam or pipe. See California Fish and Game Code 5900

If the owner and the department fail to agree upon the type, size, mesh, location, and time of installation of the screen within 60 days from the first submission of proposed plans and specifications by the department to the owner, either the department or the owner may submit such matters, in writing to the Department of Water Resources for final and conclusive decision, and it shall, within 60 days from such reference, render its decision in writing determining such matters.

The department shall maintain and keep the screen in repair, and shall quarterly notify the owner in writing of the cost thereof, and the owner shall within 30 days thereafter remit to the department an amount equal to one-half of such cost.

The owner shall operate and keep free from debris any screen installed, and shall quarterly notify the department in writing of the cost thereof, and the department shall within 30 days thereafter remit to the owner an amount equal to one-half of such cost.

(Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)