The Salton Sea Conservancy Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. The Legislature intends to support the fund through authorized proceeds from the sale of bonds and allocations from the Salton Sea Lithium Fund pursuant to Section 2951 of the Fish and Game Code.

The conservancy may engage in partnerships with tribes, nonprofit organizations, local public agencies, including the Salton Sea Authority, and landowners.

In implementing this division, the conservancy shall cooperate and consult with the city or county in which a grant is proposed to be expended or an interest in real property is proposed to be acquired, and shall, as necessary or appropriate, coordinate its efforts with the Salton Sea Authority, and with other state agencies, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.

or reimbursement of funds granted on terms and conditions it deems appropriate. The proceeds of repayment shall be deposited in the fund.

project benefits a disadvantaged community.

financial capacity to support those ongoing costs.

The conservancy may sue and be sued.

Government Code). However, the conservancy may request the State Public Works Board to review and approve specific acquisitions. The conservancy may also request assistance in acquiring real property from the Department of Water Resources.

The conservancy may enter into an agreement with a public agency, nonprofit organization, or private entity for the construction, management, or maintenance of facilities authorized by, or transferred to, the conservancy.

The conservancy shall not exercise the power of eminent domain.

Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, on or before January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the conservancy shall prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, on its implementation of Sections 33812 and 33813, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

appropriated to the conservancy in the fiscal year preceding the year in which the report is made.

Nothing in this chapter shall limit or alter any party’s, including the state’s, responsibility under existing law or any party’s authority to carry out any responsibility under existing law.