The Legislature finds and declares that the agricultural lands located within the coastal zone contribute substantially to the state and national food supply and are a vital part of the state’s economy.
Chapter 2Declaration of State Policy and General Provisions
Section § 31050
The law recognizes that agricultural lands in coastal areas are crucial for providing food and significantly support the state's economy.
agricultural lands coastal zone food supply state economy national food supply coastal agricultural impact economic contribution vital resources state agriculture coastal agriculture agricultural economy coastal region farming food production areas economic value of agriculture
Section § 31051
This law states that agricultural lands in coastal areas should mainly be used for farming. Other uses, like urban development, should only happen if they are significantly beneficial for the public in the long run.
The Legislature further finds and declares that agricultural lands located within the coastal zone should be protected from intrusion of nonagricultural uses, except where conversion to urban or other uses is in the long-term public interest.
agricultural lands coastal zone protection from nonagricultural use urban conversion long-term public interest farming protection land use nonagricultural intrusion urban development coastal agriculture policy public interest exceptions coastal land protection conversion restrictions land use planning agricultural preservation
Section § 31052
This law explains that many rural lands in California's coastal zone are either empty or underused. The reasons for this include bad road systems, poorly planned lot designs, fragmented land ownership, and insufficient recreational and open spaces. These problems harm the coastline environment and make it hard to develop these areas in a planned, systematic way.
The Legislature further finds and declares that lands within the coastal zone, principally in rural areas, are vacant or improperly utilized because of inadequate circulation patterns, poor lot layout, scattered ownerships, lack of recreation and open space, and other conditions which adversely affect the coastal environment and reduce opportunities for orderly development.
rural coastal land vacant land improperly utilized land inadequate circulation patterns poor lot layout scattered ownership recreation and open space coastal environment impact orderly development land use planning coastal zone development environmental conditions fragmented land ownership open space deficiency coastal area planning
Section § 31053
This section highlights that areas within the coastal zone, crucial for fish and wildlife, and other natural resources, have been damaged by careless activities like dredging, land filling, and inappropriate land use.
The Legislature further finds and declares that important fish and wildlife habitat, natural areas, and scenic and environmental resources within the coastal zone have been degraded due to indiscriminate dredging, filling, and the intrusion of incompatible land uses.
coastal zone natural areas fish habitat wildlife habitat scenic resources environmental resources degraded indiscriminate dredging land filling incompatible land uses habitat protection environmental degradation resource conservation intrusion habitat damage
Section § 31054
This law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy in California, which is responsible for protecting agriculture, restoring areas, and enhancing resources along the coast. The Conservancy must adhere to specific policies and guidelines and report its activities to the Governor and the Legislature.
It is the policy of the state and the intent of the Legislature to provide for the State Coastal Conservancy, which should report to the Governor and to the Legislature, with responsibility for implementing a program of agricultural protection, area restoration, and resource enhancement in the coastal zone within policies and guidelines established pursuant to Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000).
State Coastal Conservancy agricultural protection coastal zone area restoration resource enhancement legislative intent state policy environmental programs coastal resources Governor reporting Legislature reporting Division 20 guidelines natural resource management coastal environment policy implementation
Section § 31055
This law states that money cannot be spent or given away under this division until it is officially approved by the Legislature.
No funds may be expended or granted under this division, unless and until such funds are appropriated by the Legislature.
funds appropriation Legislature approval expenditure restrictions granting funds budget control financial oversight allocation requirements legislative process funding authorization resource distribution public funds management budgetary constraints government spending fund allocation legislative appropriation
Section § 31056
The conservancy can only fund projects in the San Francisco Bay after the Legislature allocates specific funds for them. Once funds are appropriated by the Legislature or received from other sources, those funds must be used specifically for projects in the San Francisco Bay area.
The bay commission is allowed to create a yearly list of priority areas and issues related to the San Francisco Bay and Suisun Marsh Protection Plan. This list helps the conservancy decide which projects to support in the Bay area.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 31056(a) The conservancy is not required to provide funding for projects within the San Francisco Bay in the areas described in Section 31006, until the Legislature appropriates funds for such purposes.
The conservancy shall expend funds specifically identified for the San Francisco Bay, whether from public or private sources, in the San Francisco Bay.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 31056(b) The bay commission may annually prepare and adopt a list of priority areas and concerns which are essential to the orderly implementation of the bay plan and the Suisun Marsh Protection Plan. The priority list shall provide guidance to the conservancy in its selection of San Francisco Bay projects.
San Francisco Bay projects legislature funding funding allocation bay commission priority areas project selection Suisun Marsh Protection Plan conservancy expenditure public funding for Bay private funding Bay area development San Francisco Bay plan priority list environmental conservation funding Bay area concerns
