(a) The American River Parkway and its environs contribute to the quality of life within the City of Sacramento, the City of Rancho Cordova, and the County of Sacramento, enhance the image of the cities and the county as desirable places to live, provide for the public safety and welfare of the community, and thereby contribute to the economic well-being of the community.

(b) The lower American River serves as a floodway channel, protecting the community from runoff, rainfall, and snowmelt.

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(c) The lower American River sustains a myriad of fish populations, including steelhead, king salmon, striped bass, shad, and other fish and wildlife populations, which in turn annually support millions of recreation user-days and commercial, scientific, and educational uses and benefits.

(d) The recreation capacity of the American River Parkway is immense, including such diverse activities as hiking, bicycling, picnicking, birding, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, sailing, and power cruising.

(e) It is essential that the function of the lower American River and its environs, as a regional open-space resource within the center of the City of Sacramento, the City of Rancho Cordova, and County of Sacramento, be supported and maintained.

(f) Actions undertaken by a state agency can drastically affect the American River Parkway and negate planning steps taken by appropriate local agencies.

(g) Adoption of the American River Parkway Plan by the State of California provides necessary recognition so that local planning efforts are eligible to receive planning grants through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, technical staff assistance through the National Park Service, and financial assistance through the Soil Conservation Service’s Cooperative River Basin Planning Program.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 482, Sec. 5. (AB 889) Effective October 11, 2009.)