The land is reclaimed by removing and/or preventing water from returning via systems of levees, dikes, drainage ditches, and pumps.
Since wetlands are subject to flooding, these lands often were adjacent to sources of water, making them ideal for growing irrigated crops.
Today fewer wetlands are being reclaimed, leaving districts primarily responsible for maintaining the existing systems used to keep the land within their jurisdiction dry.
However, if the Central Valley Flood Protection Board,[1] which is responsible for monitoring California reclamation districts, determines that a local district is not adequately maintaining its levee system, the Board has the power to authorize the California Department of Water Resources to establish a maintenance area and essentially take responsibility of the levee.
In times of emergency, reclamation districts will appeal to county, state, and federal agencies for additional funds necessary to repair levees.