The department, with the approval of the Administrator of the Resources Agency and the Department of Finance, is authorized to cooperate and participate with the federal government pursuant to Public Law 89-161 in the development of recreation facilities, or with the approval of the Department of Fish and Game, fish and wildlife enhancement facilities, or both, at Auburn Dam and Reservoir, Folsom Dam and Reservoir, Nimbus Dam and Lake Natomas, and County Line Dam and Reservoir, and stream areas in the immediate vicinity of these facilities.

The department, with the approval of the Administrator of the Resources Agency and the Department of Finance, is authorized to administer unit land and water areas for recreation or fish and wildlife enhancement, or both, and to contract with the federal government for the operation, maintenance, and replacement of unit facilities, to assume all costs of such operation, maintenance, and replacement, and to accept transfer of unit lands or facilities by lease or exchange upon such terms and conditions as will best promote the development and operation of such lands or facilities in the public interest for recreation or fish and wildlife enhancement purposes, or both. Any such contract entered into by the department which affects the operation, maintenance or replacement of fish and wildlife enhancement features is subject to approval by the Department of Fish and Game.

The State of California, acting by and through the department, with the approval of the Administrator of the Resources Agency and the Department of Finance, is authorized to enter into a contract or contracts with the federal government to pay or repay one-half of the separable capital costs involved in the development of the recreation or fish and wildlife enhancement features, or both, at the Auburn Dam and Reservoir, Folsom Dam and Reservoir, Nimbus Dam and Lake Natomas, and County Line Dam and Reservoir, and stream areas in the immediate vicinity of these facilities, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 89-161. The agreement for the payment or repayment of the separable capital costs shall be limited to those recreation or fish and wildlife enhancement facilities, or both, specified in the contract. Such payments or repayments may be made by any or all of the following methods: by legislative appropriation; by provision of lands, interests therein, or facilities for the unit; or by a contract or contracts for repayment, with interest, within 50 years of first use of unit recreation or fish and wildlife enhancement facilities specified in the contract or contracts. The source of repayment may be limited to entrance and user fees or charges collected at the unit by the department if such fees or charges dedicated to repayment are established on a basis calculated to achieve repayment and are made subject to review and renegotiation at intervals of not more than five years. If the source of repayment is so limited, revenues derived from such fees or charges shall be deposited in a special account in the Special Deposit Fund in the State Treasury and used for the purpose of such repayment. If not so limited, the source of repayment shall be such appropriations of funds as may from time to time be made for such purpose by the Legislature.

The department shall cooperate with any local public body authorized to contract with the federal government pursuant to Public Law 89-161, including, but not limited to, the Counties of El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento, in planning of any proposed participation with the federal government. The state may contract with any or all of such counties or other local public bodies for the operation, maintenance, and replacement of unit facilities, or any portion thereof, if requested by any or all such counties or other local public bodies.

(Added by Stats. 1966, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 66.)