It is the intent of the Legislature by this part to provide for the regulation and supervision of dams and reservoirs exclusively by the State.

subdivision (a) shall take into consideration, in determining whether or not a dam constitutes, or would constitute, a danger to life or property, the possibility that the dam might be endangered by seepage, earth movement, or other conditions that exist, or might occur, in any area in the vicinity of the dam.

or before each January 1 thereafter. Any change in the information shall be submitted to the department on or before July 1 of each year.

No city or county has authority, by ordinance enacted by the legislative body thereof or adopted by the people under the initiative power, or otherwise, to regulate, supervise, or provide for the regulation or supervision of any dams or reservoirs in this state, or the construction, maintenance, or operation thereof, nor to limit the size of any dam or reservoir or the amount of water which may be stored therein. This part shall not prevent a city or county from adopting ordinances regulating, supervising, or providing for the regulation or supervision of dams and reservoirs that (a) are not within the state’s jurisdiction, or (b) are not subject to regulation by another public agency or body.

Whenever supervision of safety of design or construction of a proposed or existing dam or reservoir is exercised by the United States or any of its agencies pursuant to a jurisdiction superior to that of the state, and the requirements made under authority of such jurisdiction are so contradictory with requirements made by the department under this part that a compliance cannot be made which will meet both federal and state requirements, then the state requirements shall be modified by the department sufficiently to make possible compliance with both federal and state requirements.

No action shall be brought against the state or the department or its agents or employees for the recovery of damages caused by the partial or total failure of any dam or reservior or through the operation of any dam or reservoir upon the ground that such defendant is liable by virtue of any of the following:

Nothing in this part shall be construed to relieve an owner or operator of a dam or reservoir of the legal duties, obligations, or liabilities incident to the ownership or operation of the dam or reservoir.

The findings and orders of the department and the certificate of approval of any dam or reservoir issued by the department are final and conclusive and binding upon all state agencies, regulatory or otherwise, as to the safety of design, construction, maintenance, and operation of any dam or reservoir.

Nothing in this part shall be construed to deprive any owner of such recourse to the courts as he may be entitled to under the laws of this State.

If a dam is owned by one or more persons or entities, the owners shall form or delegate legal and financial authority to a single entity that is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the dam, as well as the payment of any fees or other costs associated with dam ownership.