The Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife approved a bill by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) to enable the state Department of Parks and Recreation to expand the use of conservation easements to protect state parklands.

SB 1431 clarifies that Parks and Recreation is allowed to acquire a conservation easement if it determines that it is necessary to protect a unit of the state park system from an incompatible use, or to preserve and enhance the natural resource, cultural, or historic value of a state park unit.

Wiggins’ bill would also enable Parks and Recreation to make grants to a state or local government agency, or a nonprofit, to purchase and hold a conservation easement with funds that have been appropriated to the department for land acquisitions. Grant recipients would be required to monitor and enforce the easement and agree to restrict the use of the land in perpetuity. Wiggins says the legislation will protect parks from the increased pressure of population growth and urban development.

The vote in the committee was eight to three. The bill next moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for its consideration.

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