The duties and powers placed upon and vested in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by this article are to be exercised in subordination to and without prejudice to the right of the beneficiary of any trust under which the state may hold said lands or of the rights of any institution of the state, but the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall act as technical advisor to the state and to any such institution or political subdivision or the inhabitants thereof with reference to such lands.
Ala. Code § 9-15-5 (1975)