Riparian Habitat Conservation

Fish and Game Code Division 2, Chapter 4.1 deals with the California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program.

Section 1385 names this chapter as the California Riparian Habitat Conservation Act. Section 1386 contains three legislative findings and declarations.

Section 1387 requires the Wildlife Conservation Board to establish and administer, through the department, the California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program. The purpose and goal of the program is to protect, preserve, and restore riparian habitats throughout the state by the acquisition of interests and rights in real property and waters to the extent deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the program.

Section 1388 requires the board to approve projects to acquire, preserve, restore, and enhance riparian habitat throughout the state, and coordinate its activities undertaken pursuant to this program with other resources protection activities of the board and other state agencies.

Section 1389 requires the preservation and enhancement of riparian habitat to be a primary concern of the Wildlife Conservation Board and the department, and of all state agencies whose activities impact riparian habitat.

Section 1390 states that, in order to accomplish the objectives of this chapter, the Wildlife Conservation Board may authorize the department to do five specified activities.

Section 1391 says that grants to nonprofit organizations for the acquisition of real property or interests are subject to all six specified conditions.