Cal. Wat. Code § 8990
If any reclamation district, levee district, drainage district, municipal corporation, private corporation, association or person has since February 28, 1928, or shall hereafter, advance or expend any sum of money to be applied upon, and in aid of the completion of, any work of new construction called for by the provisions of the flood control plan of the State as in effect February 28, 1928, or as amended after August 14, 1931, the sum advanced, or a specified portion thereof agreed upon, may in the discretion of the board, be determined to be a proper charge against the particular work of construction for which the money was advanced and the party advancing it may, in the discretion of the board, have a claim against the drainage district for the amount, or specified portion thereof, without interest, payable as and when moneys are made available by law for defraying the cost of the particular work for which the sum was originally advanced.
Ca. Water Code § 8990