RCW 86.26.050 provides that counties and other municipal corporations responsible for flood control maintenance may apply to the department of ecology for financial assistance for the preparation of comprehensive flood control management plans and for flood control maintenance projects. The purpose of those plans is described in RCW 86.26.105. The department shall determine priorities and allocate available funds from the flood control assistance account program (FCAAP) among those counties applying for assistance, and shall adopt rules establishing the criteria by which those allocations must be made. The criteria must be based upon proposals that are likely to bring about public benefits commensurate with the amount of state funds allocated thereto. This chapter describes the manner in which ecology will implement the provisions of the act.