(a)  Funds provided by this division shall not be expended to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities. Those costs shall be the responsibility of the water agencies that benefit from the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of those facilities.

(b) To the extent feasible, in implementing subdivision (k) of Section 79731, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy shall seek to achieve wildlife conservation objectives through projects on public lands or voluntary projects on private lands. Funds available to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 79731 may be used, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, for payments to landowners for the creation of measurable habitat improvements or other improvements to the condition of endangered or threatened species. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy may develop and implement a competitive program for habitat enhancements that maximizes voluntary landowner participation in projects that provide measurable and long-lasting habitat or species improvements in the Delta. These funds shall not be used to subsidize or decrease the mitigation obligations of any party.

(c) In implementing subdivision (k) of Section 79731, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy shall coordinate and consult with the city or county in which a grant is proposed to be expended or an interest in real property is proposed to be acquired and with the Delta Protection Commission. Acquisitions by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 79731 shall be from willing sellers only.

(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 188, Sec. 8. (AB 1471) Approved in Proposition 1 at the November 4, 2014, election.)