Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department shall have the right to remove and dispose of all floating logs, timber, lumber, and other debris deposited on public beaches, waterways or lands within the state park system, when such deposits create a hazard or impediment to the public safety, enjoyment, and use of the public beach, waterway or land.
Logs, timber or lumber which are capable of being identified as the property of another shall be held by the department for a period of three months from the time of their removal from any public beach, waterway or land.
The owner of such property may remove it on payment or tendering to the department the amount of the damages which the department has sustained by reason of the drifting of the property upon the public beaches, waterways or lands within the state park system and which may accrue in removal of the property.
If the property remains unclaimed after the three months period the department may dispose of such logs, timber or lumber by destruction, sale or use.
(Added by renumbering Section 5007.1 by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1065.)