N.Y. Const. art. XV, § 4: Lease or transfer of barge canal to federal government authorized

§ 4. Notwithstanding the prohibition of sale, abandonment or other

disposition contained in section one of this article, the legislature

may authorize by law the lease or transfer to the federal government of

the barge canal, consisting of the Erie, Oswego, Champlain, Cayuga and

Seneca divisions and the barge canal terminals and facilities for

purposes of operation, improvement and inclusion in the national system

of inland waterways. Such lease or transfer to the federal government

for the purposes specified herein may be made upon such terms and

conditions as the legislature may determine with or without compensation

to the state. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the legislature

from providing annual appropriations for the state's share, if any, of

the cost of operation, maintenance and improvement of the barge canal,

the divisions thereof, terminals and facilities in the event of the

transfer of the barge canal in whole to the federal government whether

by lease or transfer.

The legislature, in determining the state's share of the annual cost

of operation, maintenance and improvement of the barge canal, the

several divisions, terminals and facilities, shall give consideration

and evaluate the benefits derived from the barge canal for purposes of

flood control, conservation and utilization of water resources.