Mission Statement
The Wildlife Conservation Board's (Board) mission is to select,
authorize, and allocate funds for the purchase of land and waters suitable for
the preservation, protection, and restoration of wildlife habitat. The Board
is also responsible for providing compatible recreational facilities. This has
included the development of fishing piers and other means of access to coastal
and inland waters and cost-sharing for wetlands enhancement.
Major Roles and Responsibilities in Wetlands Management
The Board is responsible for wetlands protection through the acquisition of fee
and lesser interests, such as conservation easements. In addition, the Board
assists local agencies, special districts, and nonprofit organizations with
cost-share projects which restore and enhance public and privately owned
wetlands. The Board is also responsible for managing the Inland Wetlands
Conservation Program. This program assists the Central Valley Joint Venture in
meeting specific objectives which protect, restore, and enhance public and
privately owned wetlands in the California Central Valley.
Although the Board does not actively manage wetlands, it does have the
authority to manage and award leases for degraded wetlands to nonprofit
organizations, special districts, and local and state agencies. Under the
terms of the lease, the lessee agrees to restore wetlands to their highest
possible wetland value and maintain the wetlands at their highest possible
value. Also, the Board has the authority to acquire degraded wetlands, restore
the wetland to highest wetland value, and then sell the wetland to the private
sector or another governmental entity. Such transactions only require short
term management responsibilities.
Legal Mandate
The Board was established by legislation under the Wildlife
Conservation Act of 1947 to administer a capital outlay program for wildlife
conservation and related public recreation. Subsequent legislation, such as
the Inland Wetlands Conservation Program (1990) and the California Riparian
Habitats Protection Program (1991), expanded the Board's mandate. Generally,
the Board's mandate can be found in 
1300-1431 of the
California Fish and Game Code. Although the Board is a part of the California
Department of Fish and Game, it has separate funding.
For more information on the Wildlife Conservation Board contact:
Al Wright, Executive Director, Awright@dfg.ca.gov
Mailing address:
1807 13th Street, Suite 103
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-8448
Fax: (916) 323-0280
Webmaster: wetlands@resources.ca.gov
This file last modified on: Thursday, January 24, 2002.
Document URL: http://resources.ca.gov/wetlands/agencies/dwr.html
Copyright © 1997 California Resources Agency. All rights reserved.