The commission shall determine the ownership of all salmon and steelhead spawning areas as designated by § 1505 of the Fish and Game Code. All areas found to be state property shall be permanently protected by the state, and no sale, lease or disposal of material shall be made as to such areas, except that rights-of-way and easements may be granted to, and leases entered into with, public utilities for the installation, operation, and maintenance of public utility facilities unless the Director of Fish and Game shall determine that such facilities would prove deleterious to fishlife.

(Added by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1405.)