The department shall keep a separate account for money appropriated for the purposes of this chapter from the General Fund. The money in this account shall be available to the department for expenditure for the maintenance and operation of any unit for which a maintenance area is formed to the extent there is no money, or insufficient money, available under Section 12878.42. All money so expended shall be repaid from any money subsequently deposited by the benefited maintenance area.
Ca. Water Code § 12878.43