California State Lands Commission

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The California State Lands 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 is assisted by a staff of more than 200 specialists in mineral resources, land management, boundary determination, petroleum engineering and the natural sciences. The staff is supervised by an Executive Officer appointed by the Commissioners.

[edit] 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:

1. Charles J. Whiting, 1850-1852
2. William M. Eddy, 1852-1854
3. Senaca H. Marlette, 1854-1856
4. John A. Brewster, 1856-1858
5. Horace A. Higley, 1858-1862
6. James F. Houghton, 1862-1868
7. John W. Bost, 1868-1872
8. Robert Gardner, 1872-1876
9. William Minis, 1876-1880
10. James W. Shanklin, 1880-1882
11. Henry I. Willey, 1882-1886
12. Theodore Reichert, 1886-1894
13. Martin J. Wright, 1894-1902
14. Victor H. Woods, 1902-1906
15. William S. Kingsbury, 1906-1929