Why are Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreements Necessary?

California’s lakes, rivers, and streams provide valuable habitat for fish & wildlife.

The Department of Fish & Game (DFG) is responsible for conserving, protecting and managing California’s fish, wildlife, and native plant resources.

To meet this responsibility, the Fish and Game Code requires notifying the DFG of any proposed project that may impact a river, stream or lake.

If DFG determines that the project may adversely affect existing fish or wildlife resources, a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement is required.

By notifying DFG and entering into a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement, you are contributing to the protection and conservation of California’s natural resources.

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The notification requirement applies to any work undertaken in or near a river, stream, or lake that flows at least intermittently through a bed or channel. This includes ephemeral streams, desert washes and water courses with a subsurface flow. It may also apply to any work undertaken within the flood plain of a body of water.

If you are planning a project similar to one of the examples listed below, you will need to notify the DFG before you start your project or activity!

• Place a pier in a waterway
• Add a levee for flood control
• Install bank protection to prevent erosion
• Grade the bank of a stream
• Cross a stream with a culvert or bridge
• Drill or tunnel under a water course
• Build a dam to create a pond or lake
• Extract gravel from a channel
• Remove vegetation or wood from a stream

Who needs to notify the Department of Fish & Game?

Notification to the DFG is required by any person, business, state or local government agency, or public utility that proposes an activity that will:

• Divert, obstruct or change the natural flow or the bed, channel or bank of any river, stream or lake;
• Use material from a streambed;
• or Result in the disposal or deposition of debris, waste, or other material where it can pass into any river, stream, or lake.

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• Map of the project location
• Project description
• Construction plans and drawings
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documentation when applicable
• Copies of any local, State, Federal or other required permits/authorizations

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Inside this edition:

Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreements (continued)

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