Cal. Water Code § 12750.1

The State shall pay the cost of lands, easements and rights-of-way for small flood control projects authorized by Section 12750 only if the department finds in its judgment that the benefits of the proposed works of improvement will exceed the costs thereof and that the project plan appears to be the most economical project plan, considering construction costs, lands, easements and rights-of-way costs, and costs of operation and maintenance.