Cal. Water Code § 12883.4

A loan for the preparation of a proposed feasibility report on a proposed project may be approved only if it is determined that there is reasonable assurance that the public agency can repay the loan and only if the agency receives a favorable written reply from the department on a written request for a preliminary determination of eligibility for a loan for the construction of the proposed project filed with the department by the agency under the regulations of the department promulgated pursuant to this chapter.