The Legislature hereby declares that the policy of the state is to protect threatened or endangered native plants, wildlife, or aquatic organisms or specialized habitat types, both terrestrial and nonmarine aquatic, or large heterogeneous natural gene pools for the future use of mankind through the establishment of ecological reserves. For the purpose of establishing those ecological reserves, the department, with the approval of the commission, may obtain, accept on behalf of the state, acquire, or control, by purchase, lease, easement, gift, rental, memorandum of understanding, or otherwise, and occupy, develop, maintain, use, and administer land, or land and nonmarine water, or land and nonmarine water rights, suitable for the purpose of establishing ecological reserves. Any property obtained, accepted, acquired, or controlled by the department pursuant to this article may be designated by the commission as an ecological reserve. The commission may adopt regulations for the occupation, utilization, operation, protection, enhancement, maintenance, and administration of ecological reserves. The ecological reserves shall not be classified as wildlife management areas pursuant to Section 1504 and shall be exempt from Section 1504.
Fish and Game ManagementEcological Reserves
Section § 1580
This law states that California's policy is to protect endangered native plants, animals, and their habitats by creating ecological reserves. The state department, with permission from the commission, can acquire and manage land or water to establish these reserves. Once acquired, the commission can officially designate these areas as ecological reserves and set rules for their upkeep and use. Importantly, these reserves are not to be treated as wildlife management areas and have specific exemptions from other regulations.
ecological reserves endangered species protection native plants
Section § 1581
The law states that any land bought for ecological reserves in California must be owned by the state and managed according to rules set by the commission. These rules regulate how these reserves are used, operated, protected, and administered.
Any property acquired in fee for ecological reserves shall be acquired in the name of the state, and shall, at all times, be subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed from time to time by the commission for the occupation, use, operation, protection, and administration of such property as ecological reserves.
ecological reserves state-owned property commission rules
Section § 1582
This law states that when acquiring land for ecological reserves, the state must ensure it has a valid title to the land before making any payment. The title should be completely in the state’s name and meet all its requirements. Additionally, the state cannot use eminent domain to acquire such land.
The department shall do all things necessary to secure a valid title in the state to the property acquired in fee for ecological reserves but no payment shall be made therefor until the title is vested in and satisfactory to the state. No such land will be acquired by eminent domain.
ecological reserves land acquisition valid title
Section § 1583
It's illegal to go into ecological reserves or take any animals, plants, or their parts from these places unless you follow specific commission rules.
Except in accordance with the regulations of the commission it is unlawful to enter upon any ecological reserves established under the provisions of this article, or to take therein any bird or the nest or eggs thereof, or any mammal, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibia, reptiles or any other form of plant or animal life.
ecological reserves illegal entry take wildlife
Section § 1584
The term 'ecological reserve' refers to land or water areas that the commission has designated as such. These areas are maintained in their natural state or given a certain level of protection for the public to enjoy native plants and animals and for scientific study.
As used in this article, “ecological reserve” means land or land and water areas that are designated as an ecological reserve by the commission pursuant to Section 1580 and that are to be preserved in a natural condition, or which are to be provided some level of protection as determined by the commission, for the benefit of the general public to observe native flora and fauna and for scientific study or research.
ecological reserve natural condition native flora
Section § 1585
This section allows the department to build facilities and run programs in certain ecological reserves for education and recreation purposes, as long as these activities do not harm the protected biological resources. They are also authorized to manage access and charge fees at these reserves.
Notwithstanding Section 1580, which sets forth the primary purposes of ecological reserves, the department may construct facilities and conduct programs in ecological reserves it selects to provide natural history education and recreation if those facilities and programs are compatible with the protection of the biological resources of the reserve. As provided in Sections 1764 and 1765, the department may control access, use, and collect fees for selected ecological reserves.
ecological reserves natural history education recreation programs
Section § 1587
The Mirage Trail in the Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve is open for hiking from May to January but closed from February to April to protect the Peninsular bighorn sheep. The trail opens only if local agencies or organizations agree to pay for necessary measures like building fences and providing signs to protect the sheep's habitat. One group must handle financial responsibilities and spend at least $100,000 by January 2018 on monitoring the sheep. Every two years, starting in 2020, there will be a review meeting to check if the rules are being followed, with results posted online. The law is set to expire in January 2028 unless extended or changed before then.
The Mirage Trail within the Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve shall be open nine months of the year during the months of May to January, inclusive, and closed for three months during the months of February to April, inclusive, to recreational hiking if the commission determines that all of the following conditions are met:
(a)CA Fish And Game Code § 1587(a) Local public agencies or other nonstate entities will assume complete financial responsibility for the following as determined to be necessary by the commission:
(1)CA Fish And Game Code § 1587(a)(1) Fencing to dissuade hikers from traversing beyond the trail and into sensitive Peninsular bighorn sheep habitat.
(2)CA Fish And Game Code § 1587(a)(2) Signage and educational materials to educate hikers about
Peninsular bighorn sheep.
(b)CA Fish And Game Code § 1587(b) A single entity has been designated to fulfill the financial arrangements and other terms and conditions determined by the commission to be necessary pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c)CA Fish And Game Code § 1587(c) The entity designated pursuant to subdivision (b) has committed to expend at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) by January 1, 2018, to monitor the Peninsular bighorn sheep, consistent with the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan.
(d)CA Fish And Game Code § 1587(d) The commission shall, beginning January 1, 2020, and by January 1 every two years thereafter, at a public hearing, assess compliance with the requirements of this section
and post its findings and any recommendations on its Internet Web site.
(e)CA Fish And Game Code § 1587(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2028, deletes or extends that date.
Mirage Trail Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve recreational hiking restrictions
Section § 1588
This section of the law changes the name of the 'Eden Landing Ecological Reserve' to the 'Congressman Pete Stark Ecological Reserve at Eden Landing.'
The department responsible is allowed to make this name change without needing approval from the commission or any other law.
(a)CA Fish And Game Code § 1588(a) The “Eden Landing Ecological Reserve,” as specified in paragraph (52) of subdivision (b) of Section 630 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2022, is hereby renamed the “Congressman Pete Stark Ecological Reserve at Eden Landing.”
(b)CA Fish And Game Code § 1588(b) The department shall implement the name change and, notwithstanding Section 1580 or any other law, is not required to obtain commission approval for implementation of the name change.
Eden Landing Congressman Pete Stark Ecological Reserve
