49 Public Land Leases Approved; Marine Invasive Species Program Rulemakings Adopted

April 7, 2026 Meeting Highlights

The State Controller, Malia Cohen, chaired the Commission’s April meeting. The Commission met at the California Natural Resources Agency headquarters in Sacramento. The staff reports informing the Commission’s actions and the Executive Officer’s Report contain additional information and updates on offshore oil and gas decommissioning projects, the development of new strategic plan, marine invasive species prevention, and much more.

The Chair noted that the Commission has received over 1000 public comment letters regarding Sable Offshore Corp and assured Californians that the Commission will continue to do everything in its power to protect California’s beautiful natural resources and sovereignty.

Summary

• Authorized 49 leases for the use of public lands and resource s.
• Authorized one rent revision and four lease amendment s.
• Authorized one lease assignment.
• Approved two geological survey permits on sovereign land in San Diego County and elsewhere in Southern California.

- Approved one offshore geophysical survey permit in state marine waters.

Environmental Science, Planning, and Management

The Commission approved two rulemakings involving its Marine Invasive Species Program. The first increases the per vessel voyage fee by $225 to help fund the Commission’s work to prevent invasive species introductions. This is the first fee increase since 2017. The second requires vessels containing and intending to discharge freshwater or low salinity ballast water, about 24 vessel arrivals annually, to exchange ballast water at sea before discharging it. This change is intended to prevent introductions of invasive freshwater or low-salinity water species and additional invasive golden mussel introductions.

Land Conveyance

The Commission determined that it is in the best interest of the state to consider selling 326 acres of land-locked school land in San Benito County. Staff will now negotiate the land sale, and the Commission will consider it at a future meeting.

Eel River

The Commission issued a lease to PG&E to install two conduit casings under the Eel River that will house electrical lines and for continued use of overhead transmission lines. The lease will enable PG&E to run electrical cables through conduit casings and connect the electricity to distribution lines and the Rio Dell Substation, providing more reliable electrical service to customers on both sides of the Eel River in Humboldt County. Construction is planned for June.

Beach Nourishment

Los Angeles County beaches have narrowed in recent years owing to declining sand supply. The Commission authorized sand replenishment at Zuma Beach, Will Rogers State Beach, and Manhattan Beach to improve and widen these beaches to enhance recreational use and restore beach habitat for shorebirds and grunion. Beach nourishment is a nature-based sea level rise adaptation strategy that is consistent with recommendations in the Commission’s recent Shoreline Adaptation Report.

Wetland Habitat and Public Access

The Commission issued a lease to Suisun City for wetland habitat, a public promenade, and bank protection. The lease enables Suisun City to maintain wetlands, preserve habitat, and preserve public access.

Crockett Cogeneration Facility

This 240-megawatt natural gas-fueled cogeneration plant in the town of Crockett provides reliable power to the electrical grid and steam to operate the historic C&H Sugar refinery, the last remaining cane sugar refinery on the West Coast. The Commission renewed the facility’s lease to ensure continued reliable electricity and steam supply, along with its broader economic and community benefits.

Future Meetings and Ways to Stay Informed

The Commission’s next public meeting is on June 23, 2026, in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can sign up to receive updates about future meetings or follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, X, or YouTube. You can watch a webcast of past meetings on Cal-Span.