Section 1580 Of Article 4. Ecological Reserves From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 4.
1580
. The Legislature hereby declares that the policy of the state
is to protect threatened or endangered native plants, wildlife, or
aquatic organisms or specialized habitat types, both terrestrial and
nonmarine aquatic, or large heterogeneous natural gene pools for the
future use of mankind through the establishment of ecological
reserves. For the purpose of establishing those ecological reserves,
the department, with the approval of the commission, may obtain,
accept on behalf of the state, acquire, or control, by purchase,
lease, easement, gift, rental, memorandum of understanding, or
otherwise, and occupy, develop, maintain, use, and administer land,
or land and nonmarine water, or land and nonmarine water rights,
suitable for the purpose of establishing ecological reserves. Any
property obtained, accepted, acquired, or controlled by the
department pursuant to this article may be designated by the
commission as an ecological reserve. The commission may adopt
regulations for the occupation, utilization, operation, protection,
enhancement, maintenance, and administration of ecological reserves.
The ecological reserves shall not be classified as wildlife
management areas pursuant to Section 1504 and shall be exempt from
Section 1504.