10330. The Wildlife Conservation Board is hereby designated as the lead agency of the state for carrying out the program of rangeland, grazing land, and grassland protection pursuant to this division. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 984, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)
10331. The California Rangeland, Grazing Land, and Grassland Protection Program is hereby established to protect California’s rangeland, grazing land, and grasslands through the use of conservation easements, for the following purposes: (a) To prevent the conversion of rangeland, grazing land, and grassland to nonagricultural uses. (b) To protect the long-term sustainability of livestock grazing. (c) To ensure continued […]
10332. As used in this division, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) “Board” means the Wildlife Conservation Board created pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 1320) of Chapter 4 of Division 20 of the Fish and Game Code. (b) “Conservation easement” means a conservation easement, as defined by Section 815.1 of the Civil Code, […]
10334. Funds may be expended by the board for the acquisition of conservation easements over qualified property pursuant to the authority granted to the board under Section 1348 of the Fish and Game Code. The board may also make grants of funds to a state agency, local public agency, or nonprofit organization for the acquisition […]
10335. Funds expended pursuant to this division may be used only to acquire conservation easements to protect rangeland, grazing lands, and grasslands, consistent with the purposes of Sections 10331 and 10337. If additional property interests, restrictions, enhancements, or access is acquired in addition to a conservation easement, funds for those additional acquisitions shall be provided […]
10335.5. (a) Any eligible projects funded under this division with the proceeds from the sale of any bonds shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 16727 of the Government Code. (b) Of the total amount of funds derived from the proceeds of bonds and appropriated by Section 2 of the act adding this division, the board […]
10336. The board may adopt guidelines to implement the program, including the establishment of procedures and a schedule for submittal of applications for grants and a requirement that conservation easements be monitored not less than every two years. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the […]
10337. A conservation easement may be acquired pursuant to this division only if its acquisition will protect, restore, or enhance rangeland, grazing land, or grassland and sustain the character of the property. In evaluating qualified property, the board and any recipient of a grant may consider all of the following criteria: (a) The productivity or potential […]
10338. At a minimum, each application for a grant shall contain all of the following: (a) A legal description of the property and a description of the current use of the land and the habitat types of the property, including documentation of how acquisition of a conservation easement will preserve rangeland, grazing land, or grassland. (b) An […]
10339. The board may require further information as is reasonably necessary to allow the board to evaluate the proposed acquisition. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 984, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)
10340. The board, or the recipient of a grant, may accept contributions of money from a prospective seller to pay or reimburse the costs of appraisal, escrow, and title, and other transaction costs associated with the acquisition, including any environmental assessment. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 984, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)
10341. The board may request staff services from any state agency that submits an application for a grant. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 984, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)
10342. Any conservation easement, money, or other asset acquired pursuant to this division shall not be deemed a transfer pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 2780) of Chapter 9 of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 984, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)
10343. (a) Nothing in this division authorizes or increases the authority of any public agency to use eminent domain to acquire private property. (b) Nothing in this division diminishes any existing land or water right held by an existing easement holder in any property for which acquisition of a conservation easement is proposed. (c)An existing mineral rights […]
10344. The board may coordinate this program with the Oak Woodlands Conservation Act established pursuant to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 1360) of Chapter 4 of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code, as administered by the board. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 984, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)
