Cal. Public Resources Code § 5751

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) River parkways directly improve the quality of life in California by providing important recreational, open space, wildlife, flood management, water quality, and urban waterfront revitalization benefits to communities in the state. (b) River parkways provide communities with safe places for recreation including family picnics; bicycling and hiking; areas for river access for swimming, canoeing, and fishing; and many other activities. (c) River parkways help revitalize deteriorated urban neighborhoods and provide an anchor for economic development by providing important recreational and scenic amenities. (d) River parkways provide accessible open space that helps remedy the severe shortage of park and open-space areas that plague many urban and suburban communities, small towns, and rural areas. (e) River parkways provide flood protection benefits for communities by providing wider corridors along our waterways that help store, and provide safe corridors for the passage of, storm waters. (f) River parkways protect and restore riparian and riverine habitat. (g) River parkways improve or protect the water quality in our rivers and streams. (h) River parkways provide the recreational and ecosystem components of integrated regional water management and watershed plans. (i) California can improve the quality of life in this state by assisting public agencies and nonprofit organizations in establishing, developing, and restoring river parkways.