CHAPTER 10. Coastal Watershed and Wetland Protection [79570. - 79573.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 10.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79570. Section 79570.

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.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79571. Section 79571.

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.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79572. Section 79572.

(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.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79573. Section 79573.

(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.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026