California State Lands Commission
Encyclopedia
The California State Lands Commission is a unit of state government that is responsible for management and protection of natural and cultural resources, as well as public access rights, on some of California
's publicly owned lands.
The Commission was established in 1938 with authority detailed in Division 6 of the California Public Resources Code.
The members of the State Lands Commission include the Lieutenant Governor
, the State Controller
and the State Director of Finance. The first two are statewide elected officials while the last is a cabinet level officer appointed by the Governor
.
The Commission has a staff of more than 200 people, supervised by an Executive Officer appointed by the Commissioners. Staff members include specialists in mineral resources, land management, boundary determination, petroleum engineering
and natural sciences.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's publicly owned lands.
The Commission was established in 1938 with authority detailed in Division 6 of the California Public Resources Code.
The members of the State Lands Commission include the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of California
The Lieutenant Governor of California is a statewide constitutional officer elected separately from the Governor who serves as the "vice-executive" of California. The Lieutenant Governor of California is elected to serve a four year term and can serve a maximum of two terms...
, the State Controller
California State Controller
The State Controller is the Chief Financial Officer of the State of California in the United States. The post has broader responsibilities and authority than the California State Treasurer...
and the State Director of Finance. The first two are statewide elected officials while the last is a cabinet level officer appointed by the Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
.
The Commission has a staff of more than 200 people, supervised by an Executive Officer appointed by the Commissioners. Staff members include specialists in mineral resources, land management, boundary determination, petroleum engineering
Petroleum engineering
Petroleum engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. Subsurface activities are deemed to fall within the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, which are the activities of...
and natural sciences.
History
From 1850 to 1929, the current functions of the State Lands Commission were assigned to the Office of the California Surveyor General. The Surveyors General and the years of their service were:- Charles J. Whiting, 1850-1852
- William M. Eddy, 1852-1854
- Senaca H. Marlette, 1854-1856
- John A. BrewsterJohn Alexander BrewsterJohn Alexander Brewster was the fourth California Surveyor General, serving from 1856 to 1858.He first traveled to California with explorer John C. Frémont. Although the exact date of his arrival in California is not known, it probably predated the arrival of any other Surveyor General; he was...
, 1856-1858 - Horace A. Higley, 1858-1862
- James F. Houghton, 1862-1868
- John W. Bost, 1868-1872
- Robert Gardner, 1872-1876
- William Minis, 1876-1880
- James W. Shanklin, 1880-1882
- Henry I. Willey, 1882-1886
- Theodore Reichert, 1886-1894
- Martin J. Wright, 1894-1902
- Victor H. Woods, 1902-1906
- William S. Kingsbury, 1906-1929