(a) The board shall authorize the acquisition of real property, rights in real property, water, or water rights as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The board may authorize acquisition by the department, but the department shall not acquire any property pursuant to this subdivision by eminent domain proceedings except that property as may be necessary to provide access roads or rights-of-way to areas to be used for fishing the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean, and then only if the board of supervisors of the affected county has agreed by resolution to those proceedings for each parcel of land, and has further agreed by resolution to maintain the road or right-of-way. The board may authorize acquisition by the State Public Works Board, which may effect acquisitions pursuant to the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(b) For the purposes of this chapter and Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 1385), the board may authorize the acquisition of interests in real property and water rights by means of gifts, purchases, leases, easements, the transfer or exchange of property for other property of like value, transfers of development rights or credits, and purchases of development rights, conservation easements, and other interests.

(c) To further implement this chapter and Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 1385), the board may authorize the department to do any of the following:

(1) Accept federal grants and receive gifts, donations, subventions, rents, royalties, and other financial support from public or private sources. Proceeds received from any of these sources shall be deposited in the Wildlife Restoration Fund or the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, lease, sell, exchange, or otherwise transfer any real property, interest in real property, or option acquired by or held under the jurisdiction of the board or the department. Except as provided in Section 1355, proceeds from transactions entered into pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the Wildlife Restoration Fund or the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

(3) Lease degraded potential wildlife habitat real property to nonprofit organizations, local governmental agencies, or state and federal agencies if the lessee agrees to restore the real property to its highest possible wildlife habitat value and maintain the real property at that highest possible wildlife habitat value. If feasible, during the period of lease, the board may require that the real property be open to the public for compatible recreational opportunities. Proceeds from any lease or rental and interest thereon shall be deposited in the Wildlife Restoration Fund or the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

(4) Acquire former wildlife habitat real property, including riparian habitat real property, restore and sell the real property, or any interest therein, to private owners, local governmental agencies, or state departments and agencies, or exchange the property for other real property, if a written and recorded agreement is first secured to keep and maintain the real property as wildlife habitat in perpetuity. The agreement shall contain a reversion if the real property sold or exchanged is not maintained as wildlife habitat. The agreement containing the reversion shall be set forth in any conveyance transferring any real property, interest in real property, or option subject to this section. Proceeds from the sales shall be deposited in the Wildlife Restoration Fund or the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 115, Sec. 5. (AB 148) Effective July 22, 2021.)