Coastal Watershed And Wetland Protection - - CA Water

Section § 79570

This law provides $200 million for protecting California's coastal watersheds. The money is split among different programs and areas. $120 million goes to the State Coastal Conservancy for coastal watershed protection. $20 million is allocated to the San Francisco Bay Conservancy Program. Another $40 million supports the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, with $20 million focused on the Los Angeles River and $20 million on the Santa Monica Bay's coastal watersheds. Lastly, $20 million is assigned to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

The sum of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available for appropriation by the Legislature from the fund for expenditures and grants for the purpose of protecting coastal watersheds, including, but not limited to, acquisition, protection, and restoration of land and water resources and associated planning, permitting, and administrative costs, in accordance with the following schedule:

(a) The sum of one hundred twenty million dollars ($120,000,000) to the State Coastal Conservancy for coastal watershed protection pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000) of the Public Resources Code.

(b) The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) to the State Coastal Conservancy for expenditure for the San Francisco Bay Conservancy Program for coastal watershed protection pursuant to Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 31160) of Division 21 of the Public Resources Code.

(c) The sum of forty million dollars ($40,000,000) to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) of this sum shall be expended for protection of the Los Angeles River watershed upstream of the northernmost boundary of the City of Vernon, and twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be expended for protection of the Santa Monica Bay and Ventura County coastal watersheds, pursuant to Division 23 (commencing with Section 33000) of the Public Resources Code.

(d) The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for protection of the San Gabriel and lower Los Angeles River watersheds pursuant to Division 22.8 (commencing with Section 32600) of the Public Resources Code.

coastal watersheds State Coastal Conservancy San Francisco Bay Conservancy Program Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Los Angeles River watershed Santa Monica Bay watershed Ventura County coastal watersheds San Gabriel River Lower Los Angeles River watershed protection grants land acquisition and restoration restoration funds resource protection watershed planning administrative costs

(Added November 5, 2002, by initiative Proposition 50.)

Section § 79571

This section explains that 10% of the funds from Section 79570 will be used for grants aimed at creating facilities that enhance public access to conservation efforts. Projects that qualify can include training centers for watershed and water conservation run by nonprofits that collaborate with the University of California and public water agencies.

Additionally, it covers nature centers near key watersheds and wetlands that offer wildlife viewing and conservation education, particularly for urban children lacking outdoor educational opportunities. Priority will be given to these initiatives when they are operated by or in partnership with nonprofits.

Ten percent of the money allocated in each of the categories in Section 79570 shall be used for grants for the acquisition and development of facilities to promote public access to and participation in the conservation of land, water, and wildlife resources. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Training and research facilities for watershed protection and water conservation activities conducted by nonprofit organizations. Priority shall be given to projects operated by nonprofit organizations in collaboration with the University of California and public water agencies.

(b) Nature centers that are in or adjacent to watersheds and wetlands identified for protection pursuant to this chapter, that provide wildlife viewing, outdoor experiences, and conservation education programs to the public and to students. Priority shall be given to projects that are operated by or in cooperation with nonprofit organizations and are designed to serve children from urban areas that lack access to natural areas and outdoor education programs.

public access to conservation grants for conservation facilities watershed protection training water conservation activities nonprofit organizations collaboration University of California public water agencies nature centers wildlife viewing education programs for urban children outdoor experiences conservation education urban children access to nature wetlands protection facilities development grants

(Added November 5, 2002, by initiative Proposition 50.)

Section § 79572

This law allocates $750 million to the Wildlife Conservation Board for buying, protecting, and restoring coastal wetlands and nearby lands. The funding is especially aimed at areas near cities and focuses on three main projects: First, projects concerning coastal wetlands listed in the Southern California Coastal Wetlands Inventory from 2001 and the San Francisco Baylands report. Second, projects in the LA, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties, specifically supporting the Santa Monica Mountains and Baldwin Hills through grants. Third, more than $300 million is dedicated to LA and Ventura, with priority given to lands near Bolsa Chica wetlands in Orange County. The law also limits up to $200 million for projects in the San Francisco Bay area, possibly via grants to the State Coastal Conservancy.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the sum of seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) is hereby continuously appropriated from the fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board, without regard to fiscal years, for the acquisition, protection, and restoration of coastal wetlands, upland areas adjacent to coastal wetlands, and coastal watershed lands. Money appropriated pursuant to this section shall be for the acquisition, protection, and restoration of lands in or adjacent to urban areas. Eligible projects shall be limited to the following:

(1) Acquisition, protection, and restoration of coastal wetlands identified in the Southern California Coastal Wetlands Inventory as of January 1, 2001, published by the State Coastal Conservancy, located within the coastal zone, and other wetlands connected and proximate to such coastal wetlands, and upland areas adjacent and proximate to such coastal wetlands, or coastal wetlands identified for acquisition, protection, and restoration in the San Francisco Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals Report, and upland areas adjacent to the identified wetlands.

(2) Acquisition, protection, and restoration of coastal watershed and adjacent lands located in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. Any project financed pursuant to this paragraph within the Santa Monica Mountains Zone, as defined in Section 33105 of the Public Resources Code, shall be by grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Any project financed pursuant to this paragraph within the Baldwin Hills area, as defined in Section 32553 of the Public Resources Code, shall be by grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board to the Baldwin Hills Conservancy.

(b) Not less than three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) of the amount appropriated in this section shall be expended or granted for projects within Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Of the remaining funds available pursuant to this section the Wildlife Conservation Board shall give priority to the acquisition of not less than 100 acres consisting of upland mesa areas, including wetlands therein, adjacent to the state ecological reserve in the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Orange County.

(c) Not more than two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) of the amount appropriated in this section may be expended or granted for projects in the San Francisco Bay area, as described in Section 31162 of the Public Resources Code. Any project within the San Francisco Bay area may be by grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board to the State Coastal Conservancy.

Wildlife Conservation Board coastal wetlands urban area projects Southern California Coastal Wetlands Inventory San Francisco Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals San Francisco Bay area Los Angeles projects Ventura County projects Santa Barbara County Santa Monica Mountains Baldwin Hills Bolsa Chica wetlands State Coastal Conservancy grants public land protection California environmental funding

(Added November 5, 2002, by initiative Proposition 50.)

Section § 79573

This law section sets the rules for buying property as part of a specific program. It states that the price paid for the property can't be more than what it's worth on the open market, and this value has to be determined by a certified appraiser and then approved by both the Wildlife Conservation Board and the Department of General Services. Additionally, any property purchased must be sold by a willing seller, meaning nobody can be forced to sell their property.

(a) The purchase price for each acquisition made pursuant to Section 79572 shall not exceed the fair market value of the property as defined in Section 1263.320 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Fair market value shall be determined by an appraisal that is prepared by a licensed real estate appraiser and approved by the Wildlife Conservation Board and the Department of General Services.

(b) All real property acquired pursuant to this chapter shall be acquired from willing sellers.

purchase price fair market value licensed real estate appraiser Wildlife Conservation Board Department of General Services willing sellers property acquisition real property property appraisal willingness to sell property valuation Code of Civil Procedure Section 1263.320 real estate transactions

(Added November 5, 2002, by initiative Proposition 50.)