Article 3. Federal Bird Reservations of California Fish And Game Code >> Division 7. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 3.

The people of the State, through their legislative authority, accept the provisions and benefits of the act of Congress known as the "Migratory Bird Conservation Act," approved February 18, 1929. Upon approval by the commission, they consent to the acquisition by the United States, by purchase, lease, gift, or devise, of such areas of land, water, or land and water, within the State, as the United States or its properly constituted officers or agents may deem necessary for migratory bird reservations in carrying out the provisions of such act of Congress; saving and reserving, however, to the State such full and complete jurisdiction and authority over all such areas as are not incompatible with the administration, maintenance, protection, and control thereof by the United States under the terms of such act of Congress, and saving and reserving to all persons within such areas all rights, privileges, and immunities under the laws of the State, insofar as they are compatible with the administration, maintenance, protection, and control of such areas by the United States under the terms of such act of Congress.

Prior to such approval by the commission, the legislative body of the county concerned shall have given its written consent to the commission for the proposed acquisition.

If in any year, on lands hereafter acquired, the in lieu payments from the United States to the county, pursuant to the provisions of law, do not equal the taxes assessed on a given project, the department shall pay from income derived from hunting privileges on the project an amount equal to the balance of the taxes on the entire project. For the purposes of this section, the taxes on a given project are the assessed taxes on the project at the time of acquisition, plus any subsequent increases that may accrue from general county increases in the tax rates, but not subject to re-evaluation of such project properties after the time of acquisition.

The consent of the State to the acquisition by the United States of land, water, or land and water for migratory bird reservations in accordance with this article, is subject to the condition that the United States conform to the laws of the State relating to the acquisition, control, use, and distribution of water with respect to the land acquired.

The consent contained in Section 10680 continues only so long as the property continues to belong to the United States and is held by it in accordance and in compliance with each and all of the conditions and reservations as prescribed in this article, and is used for the purposes for which it was acquired.

With the approval of the commission, the people of the State, through their legislative authority, also consent to the declaration, withdrawal, or determination of any part of any national forest or power site, and do further consent to the condemnation of any lands lying and being below an elevation known and described as minus 230-foot elevation below sea level, as a migratory bird reservation under the provisions of the act of Congress cited in Section 10680.