(a) The reserve shall be managed primarily for the purpose of protecting the tufa and associated sand structures and providing for their interpretation. The department shall designate public accessways to Mono Lake for recreational and other purposes that are not in conflict with the preservation of the tufa and associated sand structures.

(b) The department may enter into agreements with any other public agency to provide for the joint management of the reserve and the provision of visitor and interpretive services and facilities in connection therewith. For purposes of administrative support, departmental personnel may be assigned to any other unit of the state park system in the vicinity of the reserve.

(c) The department shall commence managing the reserve, including all resources within the reserve’s boundaries which includes the waters of Mono Lake, as soon as practicable after January 1, 1982, and, to this end, the reserve is exempt from the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 5002.2 because the only improvements contemplated at the reserve are temporary facilities within the meaning of subdivision (c) of Section 5002.2.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 230, Sec. 12. Effective August 16, 2004.)