California Code, Water Code - WAT § 37969

In addition to any other authority, the district may order that an extraction surcharge or late penalty be a personal obligation of the operator or an assessment against the property on which the extraction facility is located. The assessment constitutes a lien upon the property, and the lien attaches upon recordation in the office of the county recorder. The assessment may be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary ad valorem taxes are collected, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for those taxes. All laws applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of ad valorem taxes shall be applicable to an assessment, except that, if any real property to which the lien would attach has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or if a lien of a bona fide encumbrancer for value has been created and attaches thereon prior to the date on which the first installment of the taxes would become delinquent, the lien that would otherwise be imposed by this section shall not attach to the real property and an assessment relating to the property shall be transferred to the unsecured roll for collection.