Hillside land owned by the state adjacent to the Little Miami river is hereby declared the Little Miami forest preserve. This designation constitutes a statement of intent by the general assembly that such land be used and managed by state agencies having its custody or control for the purpose of protecting, preserving, and enhancing its natural and scenic beauty for its own sake and in conjunction with the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the Little Miami river as a scenic river. To further this intent and purpose, the director of natural resources may:

(A) Accept donations of land or interests in land and designate any land so acquired or in which an interest is acquired as a part of the Little Miami forest preserve;

(B) Acquire with moneys donated or appropriated therefor, lands or interests in lands and designate any land so acquired or in which an interest is acquired as part of the Little Miami forest preserve;

(C) Designate land acquired after July 1, 1983, primarily for other purposes by the department of natural resources or any of its divisions as a part of the Little Miami forest preserve;

(D) Issue internal rules for lands controlled or managed by the department of natural resources or any of its divisions to coordinate the intent and purpose of this section with other purposes for which the land is controlled or managed by the department or its divisions; and

(E) Enter into cooperative agreements with other state agencies or political subdivisions that on July 1, 1983, own, or after such date acquire, land suitable for designation as part of the Little Miami forest preserve to coordinate the intent and purpose of this section with other purposes for which the land is controlled or managed by such agencies or subdivisions and, pursuant to such agreements, designate land subject to such agreements as part of the Little Miami forest preserve.

All state agencies shall confer and cooperate with the director of natural resources and the Little Miami scenic river advisory council to the fullest extent possible to achieve the intent and purpose of this section.

Effective Date: 04-19-1988.