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This Chapter of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code of California creates within the Wildlife Conservation Board the Inland Wetlands Conservation Program. The purpose of the Program is to carry out the programs of the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture. It is designated for use of the funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 2791, as enacted by the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The Board shall administer the Program. It may make grants or loans to nonprofit organizations, local governmental agencies, and state departments and agencies for the purpose of wetland and associated upland habitat acquisition, restoration, or enhancement and may lease non-wetlands habitat in need of restoration to nonprofit organizations, local governmental agencies, and state departments and agencies under agreements in which the lessee agrees to restore the wetlands to their highest possible wetland value and maintain the wetlands at that highest possible wetland value. It may also acquire former wetlands and associated upland habitat, restore those areas, and sell the lands, or any interest therein, to private owners, local governmental agencies, and state departments and agencies or exchange them for other land, if an agreement is secured to keep and maintain the lands as wetlands in perpetuity. When creating new wetlands, the board shall give preference to lands most suitable for this purpose due to elevations, existence of levees, proximity to existing wetlands that are protected, and potential sources of water. The Inland Wetlands Conservation Fund is created in the Wildlife Restoration Fund.
