(a)
Any person who owns land within the marsh that is being used for the purpose of agriculture or wildlife habitat on January 1, 1978, or that is used for such a purpose at any time after that date, may petition the local government having jurisdiction over the land to enter into a contract pursuant to the California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act) (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 51200) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code) or a wildlife habitat contract, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 421 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(b)
Upon receipt of a petition pursuant to subdivision (a), such local government is authorized to, and shall, enter into such contract with the petitioning landowner.