A soil and water conservation district organized under this chapter shall constitute an agency of the State and a public body corporate and politic, exercising public powers, and such district, and the supervisors thereof, shall have the following powers, in addition to others granted in other sections of this chapter: [PL 1965, c. 190, §4 (AMD).] 1. Preventive and control measures; flood prevention. To carry out preventive and control measures and works of improvement for flood prevention, or the conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water within the district, including, but not limited to, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, changes in use of land, on lands owned or controlled by this State or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction thereof, and on any other lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the occupier of such lands or the necessary rights or interests in such lands; 2. Agreements. To cooperate, or enter into agreements with, and within the limits of appropriations or other funds duly made available to it by law, to furnish financial or other aid to any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any occupier of lands within the district, in the carrying on of erosion control and prevention operations and works of improvement for flood prevention and the conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water within the district, subject to such conditions as the supervisors may deem necessary to advance the purposes of this chapter; 3. Options, purchase, sale, etc. of property. To obtain options upon and to acquire, by purchase, exchange, lease, gift, grant, bequest or devise, any property, real or personal, or rights or interests therein, after consultation with town, city and county officials; all such property shall be exempt from taxation by the State or any subdivisions or agencies thereof; to maintain, administer and improve any properties acquired, to receive income from such properties and to expend such income in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this chapter; and to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of its real and personal property or interests therein in furtherance of the purposes and provisions of this chapter; 4. Equipment and machinery made available. To make available, on such terms as it shall prescribe, to land occupiers within the district, agricultural and engineering machinery and equipment, and such other equipment or material, as will assist such land occupiers to carry on operations upon their lands for the conservation of soil resources and for the prevention and control of soil erosion, and for flood prevention or the conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water; 5. Construct and maintain structures. To construct, improve, operate and maintain such structures as may be necessary or convenient for the performance of any of the operations authorized in this chapter; 6. Plans. To develop comprehensive plans for the conservation of soil resources, for the control and prevention of soil erosion, and for flood prevention or the conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water within the district, which plans shall specify in such detail as may be possible the acts, procedures, performances and avoidances which are necessary or desirable for the effectuation of such plans, including the specification of engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, cropping programs, tillage practices and changes in use of land; and to publish such plans and information and bring them to the attention of occupiers of lands within the district; 7. Agent for federal and state agencies; accept gifts; contracts. To act as agent for the United States or any of its agencies, or for this State or any of its agencies, in connection with the acquisition, construction, operation or administration of any project for soil conservation, erosion control, erosion prevention, flood prevention or for the conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water within its boundaries; to accept donations, gifts and contributions in money, services, materials or otherwise from the United States or any of its agencies; or from this State or any of its agencies, and to use or expend such moneys, services, materials or other contributions in carrying on its operations; and to enter into contracts or negotiations with any and all federal agencies having responsibility for the distribution of surplus war or other materials suitable for utilization in soil conservation or water conservation projects for the use thereof; to enter into contracts and negotiate with any agency of the United States Government in any plan related to soil conservation, flood prevention, or the conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water; 8. Sue and be sued; seal; borrow money. To sue and be sued in the name of the district; to have a seal, which seal shall be judicially noticed; to have perpetual succession unless terminated; to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers; to borrow money and to execute promissory notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness in connection therewith; to make, and from time to time amend and repeal, rules and regulations not inconsistent with this chapter, to carry into effect its purposes and powers; 9. Supervisors may require contributions. As a condition to the extending of any benefits under this chapter to, or the performance of work upon, any lands not owned or controlled by this State or any of its agencies, the supervisors may require contributions in money, services, materials or otherwise to any operations conferring such benefits, and may require land occupiers to enter into such agreements as to the permanent use of such lands as will tend to prevent or control erosion thereon; 10. Cooperate with other districts. To cooperate with any other district organized under this chapter in the exercise of any or all powers conferred in this chapter. Provisions with respect to the acquisition, operation or disposition of property by other public bodies shall not be applicable to a district organized hereunder unless the Legislature shall specifically so state.
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