The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a) Wetlands are essential to the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the people of the State of California.
(b) In many instances, uncertainty and disputes exist with respect to the existence or nonexistence of a public trust right, title, or interest within or along waterways of the state. This uncertainty results in impeding both the development of these lands by owners of the private property interests and preservation and public use of public trust lands, and, therefore, in the interest of protecting, enhancing, and preserving the public trust on the one hand, while permitting reasonable use and development where appropriate on the other hand, title settlements will result in the avoidance of substantial delays, uncertainties, and cost to all parties of protracted litigation, and constitute sound public policy.
(c) State policy requires the examination of mitigation measures for all projects having a potentially significant adverse impact on the environment.
(d) State law further requires the adoption of mitigation measures for projects having a significant impact on certain environmentally sensitive areas, including wetlands.
(e) So that projects can be expeditiously commenced and completed, it is in the state’s interest to facilitate their completion through the provisions of this division.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1471, Sec. 1.)