General Provisions And Definitions - - CA Public Resources

Section § 33300

This section simply states the official name of a law related to the Sierra Nevada region. It's called the Laird-Leslie Sierra Nevada Conservancy Act.

This division shall be known, and may be cited, as the Laird-Leslie Sierra Nevada Conservancy Act.

Laird-Leslie Sierra Nevada Conservancy Sierra Nevada region conservation environmental protection California legislation acts natural resources wildlife conservation habitat preservation regional preservation public lands management conservation initiatives California environment natural environment

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)

Section § 33301

This law highlights the importance of the Sierra Nevada Region in California. It's a valuable area for its natural beauty, economy, and as a major water source. The law suggests establishing a Sierra Nevada Conservancy to work with various organizations to promote tourism, protect natural resources, and boost the local economy. The conservancy would focus on projects such as disaster risk reduction, improving water and air quality, and enhancing public land enjoyment. It also aims to support environmental preservation, economic well-being, climate resilience, and equity in the region.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The Sierra Nevada Region is a globally significant area, including many national and state parks, the highest peaks in the 48 contiguous states, and large, pristine areas that are open for public use.

(b) The Sierra Nevada Region is an important part of the state’s economy, providing substantial agricultural products, timber resources, ranching, mining, tourism, and recreation.

(c) The Sierra Nevada Region provides drinking water to 75 percent of Californians and nearly all of the water supply for western Nevada. As California’s principal watershed, the region is the critical source of water for urban and rural parts of northern and southern California.

(d) In cooperation with local governments, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, tribal organizations, federal agencies, other California state governmental entities, and the public, a Sierra Nevada Conservancy can help do all of the following:

(1) Provide increased opportunities for tourism and recreation.

(2) Protect, conserve, and restore the region’s physical, cultural, archaeological, historical, and living resources.

(3) Aid in the preservation of working landscapes.

(4) Reduce the risk of natural disasters, such as wildfires.

(5) Protect and improve water and air quality.

(6) Assist the regional economy through the operation of the conservancy’s program.

(7) Identify the highest priority projects and initiatives for which funding is needed.

(8) Undertake efforts to enhance public use and enjoyment of lands owned by the public.

(9) Support efforts that advance both environmental preservation and the economic well-being of Sierra residents in a complementary manner.

(10) Support efforts that advance climate resilience and equity.

Sierra Nevada Region tourism opportunities recreation natural resource conservation cultural heritage protection disaster risk reduction wildfire prevention water quality improvement air quality improvement economic support public land use environmental preservation climate resilience equity water supply

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 70, Sec. 1. (SB 39) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Section § 33302

This legal section explains the definitions used in the context of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy operations. Key terms include the "Board," referring to the Governing Board of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and the "Conservancy," which is the organization itself.

The "Fund" is the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Fund, established under a different law. "Local public agency" covers cities and counties among others, while "Nonprofit organization" means a nonprofit with purposes aligning with the Conservancy's goals.

The "Region" or "Sierra Nevada Region" includes specific California counties, excluded are the Lake Tahoe and San Joaquin River Parkway areas. "Subregions" are smaller areas within the Sierra Nevada Region.

Finally, a "Tribal organization" is a recognized Native American entity, either by federal standards or listed by the Native American Heritage Commission. These definitions are crucial for understanding the governance and operation of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

For purposes of this division, the following terms shall apply:

(a) “Board” means the Governing Board of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

(b) “Conservancy” means the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

(d) “Local public agency” means a city, county, district, or joint powers authority.

(e) “Nonprofit organization” means a private, nonprofit organization that qualifies for exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code, and whose charitable purposes are consistent with the purposes of the conservancy as set forth in this division.

(f)

(1) “Region” or “Sierra Nevada Region” means the area lying within the Counties of Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba, described as the area bounded as follows:

(2) On the east by the eastern boundary of the State of California; the crest of the White/Inyo ranges; and State Routes 395 and 14 south of Olancha; on the south by State Route 58, Tehachapi Creek, and Caliente Creek; on the west by the line of 1,250 feet above sea level from Caliente Creek to the Kern/Tulare County line; the lower level of the western slope’s blue oak woodland, from the Kern/Tulare County line to the Sacramento River near the mouth of Seven-Mile Creek north of Red Bluff; the Sacramento River from Seven-Mile Creek north to Cow Creek below Redding; Cow Creek, Little Cow Creek, Dry Creek, and up to the southern boundary of the Pit River watershed where Bear Creek Mountain Road and Dry Creek Road intersect; the southern boundary of the Pit River watershed; the western boundary of the upper Trinity watershed in the County of Trinity; on the north by the boundary of the upper Trinity watershed in the County of Trinity and the upper Sacramento, McCloud, and Pit River watersheds in the County of Siskiyou; and within the County of Modoc, the easterly boundary of the Klamath River watershed; and on the north in the County of Modoc by the northern boundary of the State of California; excluding both of the following:

(A) The Lake Tahoe Region, as described in Section 66905.5 of the Government Code, where it is defined as “region.”

(B) The San Joaquin River Parkway, as described in Section 32510.

(g) “Subregions” means the six subregions in which the Sierra Nevada Region is located, described as follows:

(1) The northwest Sierra subregion, comprising the Counties of Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity.

(2) The northeast Sierra subregion, comprising the Counties of Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, and Sierra.

(3) The north central Sierra subregion, comprising the Counties of Butte, Nevada, Placer, and Yuba.

(4) The south central Sierra subregion, comprising the Counties of Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, and Tuolumne.

(5) The southeast Sierra subregion, comprising the Counties of Alpine, Inyo, Kern, and Mono.

(6) The southwest Sierra subregion, comprising the Counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, and Tulare.

(h) “Tribal organization” means an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, or a tribal agency authorized by a tribe, which is one or both of the following:

(1) Recognized by the United States and identified within the most current Federal Register.

(2) Listed on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission as a California Native American tribe.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Governing Board Sierra Nevada Conservancy Fund local public agency 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization Sierra Nevada Region geographic boundaries Lake Tahoe Region San Joaquin River Parkway subregions northwest Sierra northeast Sierra south central Sierra tribal organization Native American tribes Federal Register recognized tribes Native American Heritage Commission

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 70, Sec. 2. (SB 39) Effective January 1, 2024.)