Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 6009 — General Provisions

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Upon admission to the United States, and as incident of its sovereignty, California received title to the tidelands, submerged lands, and beds of navigable lakes and rivers within its borders, to be held subject to the public trust for statewide public purposes, including commerce, navigation, fisheries, and other recognized uses, and for preservation in their natural state.

(b) The state’s power and right to control, regulate, and utilize its tidelands and submerged lands when acting within the terms of the public trust is absolute.

(c) Tidelands and submerged lands granted by the Legislature to local entities remain subject to the public trust, and remain subject to the oversight authority of the state by and through the State Lands Commission.

(d) Grantees are required to manage the state’s tidelands and submerged lands consistent with the terms and obligations of their grants and the public trust, without subjugation of statewide interests, concerns, or benefits to the inclination of local or municipal affairs, initiatives, or excises.

(e) The purposes and uses of tidelands and submerged lands is a statewide concern.