Chapter 9Ocean, Bay, and Coastal Protection

Section § 80120

Explanation

This law makes $175 million available for various projects that protect and enhance coastal and ocean resources. First, $35 million goes to the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund, prioritizing marine wildlife conservation and healthy ecosystems. Second, $30 million is allocated for low-cost coastal accommodations and project development grants for public agencies and nonprofits.

Third, $85 million is set aside for protecting beaches, bays, wetlands, and resources in the coastal zone, including acquiring land with ecological value. A quarter of this amount is earmarked for the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program.

Fourth, $20 million is dedicated to protecting and improving coastal forest watersheds, focusing on water quality, habitat, and forest health. Lastly, $5 million is used to buy land to protect and restore various coastal habitats connected to estuarine lagoons and wildlife areas.

The sum of one hundred seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to fund projects that enhance and protect coastal and ocean resources, as follows:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 80120(a) The sum of thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) shall be available for deposit into the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund for grants consistent with Section 35650. Priority shall be given to projects that conserve, protect, and restore marine wildlife and healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems with a focus on the state’s system of marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 80120(b) The sum of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available to the State Coastal Conservancy to provide for lower cost coastal accommodation grants and project development to public agencies and nonprofit organizations.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 80120(c) The sum of eighty-five million dollars ($85,000,000) shall be available to the State Coastal Conservancy for the protection of beaches, bays, wetlands, and coastal watershed resources pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000). This shall include the acquisition of, or conservation easements on, land in or adjacent to the California coastal zone with open space, recreational, biological, cultural, scenic, or agricultural values, or lands adjacent to marine protected areas, including marine conservation areas, whose preservation will contribute to the ecological quality of those marine protected areas. This shall also include the protection of coastal agricultural resources pursuant to Section 31150 and projects to complete the California Coastal Trail pursuant to Section 31408.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 80120(d) Twenty-five percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be available to the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program (Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 31160) of Division 21).
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 80120(e) The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available to the State Coastal Conservancy for grants and expenditures for the protection, restoration, and improvement of coastal forest watersheds, including managed forest lands, forest reserve areas, redwood forests, and other forest types. Eligible project types shall include projects that improve water quality and supply, increase coastal watershed storage capacity, reduce fire risk, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, or improve coastal forest health.
(f)CA Public Resources Code § 80120(f) The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be available to the State Coastal Conservancy for acquisition of parcels that will allow for protection and restoration of coastal dune, wetland, upland, and forest habitat associated with estuarine lagoons and designated wildlife areas.
coastal resources ocean protection marine wildlife conservation sustainable fisheries low-cost coastal accommodations beach protection wetland preservation coastal watershed San Francisco Bay Area forest watershed restoration fire risk reduction habitat protection water quality improvement California Coastal Trail estuarine lagoons
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 852, Sec. 3. Approved in Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, election.)

Section § 80121

Explanation

This section allows the relevant authority to prioritize buying land in specific areas, like those waiting for official approval in local coastal plans or that support natural community conservation efforts.

In implementing Section 80120, the administering entity may give special consideration to the acquisition of lands that are in deferred certification areas of local coastal plans or that complement natural community conservation plans.
land acquisition deferred certification areas local coastal plans natural community conservation plans special consideration administering entity environmental conservation land planning coastal land use conservation priority strategic land purchase
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 852, Sec. 3. Approved in Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, election.)