(a) By January 1, 2026, the conservancy shall be governed by a board of directors.

1. (1) The board shall consist of 15 voting members appointed as follows:

   1. (A) One public member appointed by the Governor, who is not an elected official and who resides within 50 miles of the conservancy’s territory.
   2. (B) One public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, who is not an elected official and who resides within 50 miles of the conservancy’s territory.
   3. (C) One public member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, who is not an elected official and who resides within 50 miles of the conservancy’s territory.
   4. (D) One member who is appointed by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and is a resident of that county, or their designee.
   5. (E) One member who is appointed by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and is a resident of that county, or their designee.
   6. (F) One member who is appointed by the Coachella Valley Water District and resides within the district’s boundaries, or their designee.
   7. (G) One member who is appointed by the Imperial Irrigation District and resides within the district’s boundaries, or their designee.
   8. (H) One member who is appointed by the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, or their designee.
   9. (I) One representative of a nongovernmental organization focused on environmental justice work in the region appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
   10. (J) One representative of a nongovernmental organization focused on fish and wildlife habitat work in the region appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
   11. (K) The Director of Finance, or the director’s designee.
   12. (L) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or the secretary’s designee.
   13. (M) The Director of Fish and Wildlife, or the director’s designee.
   14. (N) The Director of Water Resources, or the director’s designee.
   15. (O) The Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, or the director’s designee.

2. (2) The board shall also consist of seven ex officio nonvoting members designated as follows:

   1. (A) The Secretary for Environmental Protection, or the secretary’s designee.
   2. (B) The Chairperson of the State Water Resources Control Board, or the chairperson’s designee.
   3. (C) The Chairperson of the State Air Resources Board, or the chairperson’s designee.
   4. (D) One representative of the United States Bureau of Land Management, designated by the United States Secretary of the Interior.
   5. (E) One representative of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, designated by the United States Secretary of the Interior.
   6. (F) One representative of the federal Bureau of Reclamation, designated by the United States Secretary of the Interior.
   7. (G) One representative of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, designated by the United States Department of Defense.

(f) Each voting member specified in subparagraphs (A) to (O), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall have demonstrated interest and expertise in at least one of the conservancy’s purposes described in subdivision (a) of Section 33812. This demonstrated interest and expertise shall include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

1. (1) Experience with any of the following:

   1. (A) A land conservation nonprofit organization.
   2. (B) A public agency focused on land conservation.
   3. (C) Public land management.
2. (2) Experience as a professional with expertise in one or more functions of the board, including operations and maintenance.
3. (3) Experience with activities that benefit disadvantaged communities identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.