CHAPTER 1.1. State Heritage Networks [5078. - 5078.6.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 1.1.

in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5078. Section 5078.

As used in this chapter: (a) “Department” means the Department of Parks and Recreation. (b) “Fund” means the Heritage Network Decal Fund created pursuant to Section 5066 of the Vehicle Code. (c) “Heritage corridor” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 5070.3. (d) “Program” means the State Heritage Network Plan and Grants Program. (e) “Trust” means a State Heritage Network Trust organized pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 5078.1.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5078.1. Section 5078.1.

(a) There is in the department the State Heritage Network Plan and Grants Program. (b) The program shall enhance the protection, preservation, and interpretation of, and access to, natural, agricultural, archaeological, and historical resources within heritage corridors within the state heritage network, and as a component of any state byways system. (c) The program shall be developed in consultation with interested public and private entities, including any nonprofit State Heritage Network Trust organized to further the purposes of heritage corridors within the state heritage network. A primary purpose of any such trust shall be to assist the department in implementing the program by providing volunteer services.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5078.2. Section 5078.2.

The money in the fund shall be available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, solely for purposes of paying administrative costs incurred in carrying out the program, for the acquisition, development, use, and enhancement of heritage corridor sites within the state heritage network both within and without the state park system, and, in regard to sites not within the state park system, for matching grants, not to exceed 60 percent state funding, to local agencies, other state agencies, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5078.3. Section 5078.3.

No single grant under the program shall exceed the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Not more than 50 percent of the total money available from the fund each year may be expended by the department for purposes of the state park system. At least 25 percent of the total money available from the fund each year shall be available for grants to nonprofit organizations, including state park cooperating associations. Money available from the fund each year for the development of heritage corridors within the state heritage network shall be utilized, as equally as practicable, for the following purposes. (a) Disability access projects. (b) Interpretive facilities, including heritage corridor highway signs. (c) Interpretive and heritage education programs and interpretive publications, including California Heritage Corridors Access Maps. (d) Historical preservation and restoration projects. (e) Trail acquisition and development, except that any acquisition shall be from willing sellers only. (f) The purchase of land and easements for purposes other than trail or trail corridors from willing sellers.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5078.4. Section 5078.4.

(a) The department shall develop criteria for the evaluation and selection of heritage corridors. (b) The following heritage corridors are given provisional status to allow their inclusion in the North Central California Heritage Corridors Access Map: (1) East California Mountains and Deserts: Mount Lassen to Anza Borrego, including Highways 89 and 395 to Bishop. (2) Yosemite Pacific: Monterey and San Jose to Mono Lake via Yosemite National Park. (3) Missions and Adobes: Sonoma to San Diego via El Camino Real. (4) Great Valley Rivers: Mt. Shasta to Porterville, utilizing scenic alternates to Highway 99 wherever possible. (c) The following additional candidate heritage corridors are proposed for study and timely adoption: (1) Redwoods and Cascades: Redwood National Park to Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta. (2) California Contrast: Morro Bay to Death Valley. (3) Palm and Pine: San Juan Capistrano to Joshua Tree. (4) Rim of the World: Santa Monica Mountains to Mt. Laguna via the San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, and Mount Palomar. (5) Southern Borderlands: San Diego to Yuma, Arizona.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5078.5. Section 5078.5.

Grant proposals shall be submitted annually to the department for evaluation in accordance with procedures and criteria prescribed by the department. The department shall evaluate annually, with the assistance of the trust, if organized pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 5078.1, any proposals submitted to it and shall prepare an annual list of recommended projects for submission to the Legislature for funding.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5078.6. Section 5078.6.

(a) The department may undertake with cooperating heritage corridor groups the design and distribution of a twenty-dollar ($20) window decal to allow participation in the heritage network program by residents and nonresidents of the state. (b) Revenues derived from the sale of the decal, after deduction for administrative costs, shall be deposited in the Heritage Network Decal Fund, created pursuant to Section 5066 of the Vehicle Code.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026