Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33340. Section 33340.
The conservancy’s jurisdiction is limited to the Sierra Nevada Region.
CHAPTER 3. Powers, Duties, and Limitations [33340. - 33356.]
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 3.
in effectCal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33341. Section 33341.
The conservancy shall carry out projects and activities to further the purposes of this division throughout the region. The board shall make every effort to ensure that, over time, conservancy funding and other efforts are spread equitably across each of the various subregions and among the stated goal areas, with adequate allowance for the variability of costs associated with individual regions and types of projects.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33342. Section 33342.
In carrying out this division, the conservancy shall cooperate with and consult with the city or county where a grant is proposed or an interest in real property is proposed to be acquired; and shall, as necessary or appropriate, coordinate its efforts with other state agencies, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Resources Agency. The conservancy shall, as necessary and appropriate, cooperate and consult with a public water system that owns or operates facilities, including lands appurtenant thereto, where a grant is proposed or an interest in land is proposed to be acquired.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33343. Section 33343.
(a)
The conservancy may make grants or loans to public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and tribal organizations in order to carry out the purposes of this division, including grants or loans provided to acquire an interest in real property, including a fee interest in that property. Grant or loan funds shall be disbursed to a recipient entity only after the entity has entered into an agreement with the conservancy, on the terms and conditions specified by the conservancy. After approving a grant, the conservancy may assist the grantee in carrying out the purposes of the grant.
(b)
When awarding grants or making loans pursuant to this division, the conservancy may require repayment of those funds on the terms and conditions it deems appropriate. Proceeds from the repayment or reimbursement of amounts granted or loaned by the conservancy shall be deposited in the fund.
(c)
An entity applying for a grant from the conservancy to acquire an interest in real property shall specify all of the following in the grant application:
(1)
The intended use of the property.
(2)
The manner in which the land will be managed.
(3)
How the cost of ongoing management will be funded.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33344. Section 33344.
In the case of a grant of funds to a nonprofit organization or tribal organization to acquire an interest in real property, including, but not limited to, a fee interest, the agreement between the conservancy and the recipient nonprofit organization shall require all of the following:
(a)
The purchase price of an interest in real property acquired by the nonprofit organization shall not exceed fair market value as established by an appraisal approved by the conservancy.
(b)
The terms under which the interest in real property is acquired shall be subject to the conservancy’s approval.
(c)
An interest in real property to be acquired under the grant shall not be used as security for a debt unless the conservancy approves the transaction.
(d)
The transfer of an interest in the real property shall be subject to approval of the conservancy, and a new agreement sufficient to protect the public interest shall be entered into between the conservancy and the transferee.
(e)
A deed or instrument by which the nonprofit organization acquires an interest in real property under the grant shall include a power of termination on the part of the state, subject to the requirements of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 885.010) of Title 5 of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Civil Code. The deed or instrument shall provide that the state may exercise the power of termination by notice in the event of the nonprofit organization’s violation of the purpose of the grant through breach of a material term or condition thereof, and that, upon recordation of the notice, full title to the interest in real property identified in the notice shall immediately vest in the state, or in another public agency or a nonprofit organization designated by the conservancy to which the state conveys or has conveyed its interest.
(f)
A deed or instrument by which the nonprofit organization acquires an interest in real property under the grant shall provide that the conveyance is subject to a remainder interest vested in the state. If the existence of the nonprofit organization is terminated for any reason, the conservancy may require that the remainder shall become a present interest and that full title to the real property shall vest in the state, or in another public agency or a nonprofit organization designated by the conservancy to which the state conveys or has conveyed its interest.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33345. Section 33345.
The conservancy shall adopt guidelines setting priorities and criteria for projects and programs, based upon its assessment of program requirements, institutional capabilities, and funding needs throughout the region, and federal, state, and local plans, including general plans, recreation plans, urban water management plans, and groundwater management plans. As part of the process of developing guidelines for projects and programs, the conservancy shall undertake and facilitate a strategic program planning process involving meetings and workshops within each of the subregions, with the purpose of formulating strategic program objectives and priorities within that subregion. The strategic program shall be updated regularly, at least once every five years.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33345.1. Section 33345.1.
(a)
The Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program is hereby established, to be administered by the conservancy, to protect, conserve, and restore the health and resilience of the watersheds and communities of the region, in support of the purposes and programs described in Section 33301. In implementing this program, the conservancy shall coordinate and collaborate with other state agencies, federal agencies, and local entities and stakeholders.
(b)
In implementing the program, notwithstanding Section 33341, the conservancy may test new funding, policy, planning, and implementation approaches with the area covered by an
initiative to test new ways of accomplishing the program objectives and goals described in subdivision (a), with the intent of broadening the scope of the initiative to apply to the entire program area.
(c)
The conservancy shall include the activities of the program in its annual report required pursuant to Section 33350.
(d)
This section shall not be construed as requiring the Legislature to appropriate additional
funds.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33346. Section 33346.
(a)
The conservancy may expend funds and award grants and loans to facilitate collaborative planning efforts and to develop projects and programs that are designed to further the purposes of this division.
(b)
The conservancy may provide and make available technical information, expertise, and other nonfinancial assistance to public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and tribal organizations, to support program and project development and implementation.
(c)
The recipient of a grant or loan provided by the conservancy pursuant to this division for the acquisition of real property shall provide for the management of the real property to be acquired as specified in the grant agreement.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33346.5. Section 33346.5.
The conservancy may apply for and receive grants to carry out the purposes of this division.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33347. Section 33347.
(a)
The conservancy may acquire from willing sellers or transferors, an interest in any real property, in order to carry out the purposes of this division. However, the conservancy shall not acquire a fee interest in real property by purchase.
(b)
The acquisition of an interest in real property under this section is not subject to the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), unless the value of the interest exceeds two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) per lot or parcel, as adjusted for annual changes to the Consumer Price Index for the State of California, as calculated by the Department of Finance. However, the conservancy may request the State Public Works Board to review and approve specific acquisitions.
(c)
The conservancy shall not exercise the power of eminent domain.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33348. Section 33348.
Notwithstanding Section 11005.2 of the Government Code or any other provision of law, the conservancy may lease, rent, sell, exchange, or otherwise transfer, an interest, option, or contractual right in real property, as well as a vested right severable therefrom, that has been acquired under this division, to a person or entity, subject to terms and conditions in furtherance of the conservancy’s purposes.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33349. Section 33349.
(a)
The conservancy shall take whatever actions are reasonably necessary and incidental to the management of lands or interests in lands under its ownership or control, and may initiate, negotiate, and participate in agreements for the management of those lands or interests with public agencies or private individuals or entities.
(b)
The conservancy may improve, restore, or enhance lands for the purpose of protecting the natural environment, improving public enjoyment of or public access to public lands, or to otherwise meet the objectives of this division, and may carry out the planning and design of those improvements or other measures.
(c)
The conservancy may enter into an agreement with a public agency, nonprofit organization, or private entity, for the construction, management, or maintenance of facilities authorized by the conservancy.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33350. Section 33350.
(a)
The conservancy shall make an annual report to the Legislature and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency regarding expenditures, land management costs, and administrative costs.
(b)
This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33351. Section 33351.
The conservancy may expend funds under this division to conduct research and monitoring in connection with development and implementation of the program administered under this division.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33352. Section 33352.
(a)
The conservancy may receive gifts, donations, bequests, devises, subventions, grants, rents, royalties, and other assistance and funds from public and private sources.
(b)
Except as provided in Section 33347, the conservancy may receive an interest in real or personal property through transfer, succession, or other mode of acquisition generally recognized by law.
(c)
All funds or income received by the conservancy shall be deposited in the fund for expenditure for the purposes of this division.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33353. Section 33353.
The conservancy may fix and collect a fee for a direct service it renders, provided the service is rendered at the request of the individual or entity receiving the service. The amount of a fee shall not exceed the conservancy’s reasonable costs and expenses of providing the service rendered. All fees received by the conservancy shall be deposited in the fund for expenditure for the purposes of this division.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33354. Section 33354.
Proceeds from a lease, rental, sale, exchange, or transfer of an interest or option in real property, and all other income, shall be deposited in the fund for expenditure for the purposes of this division.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33355. Section 33355.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only for the purposes of this division.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 33356. Section 33356.
Nothing in this division grants to the conservancy:
(a)
Any of the powers of a city or county to regulate land use.
(b)
Any powers to regulate any activities on land, except as the owner of an interest in the land, or pursuant to an agreement with, or a license or grant of management authority from, the owner of an interest in the land.
(c)
Any powers over water rights held by others.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026