N.Y. County Law § 299-p: Administration of the watershed district; powers; limitations

§ 299-p. Administration of the watershed district; powers;

limitations. 1. Administrative head or body of district. When a

watershed district shall have been established, the board of

supervisors, with the advice of the agency, shall appoint, designate or

establish an administrative head or body in the manner prescribed in

section two hundred sixty-one of this chapter in the case of county

water districts, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2. Powers and duties of the district. All the provisions of sections

two hundred sixty-one through and including two hundred sixty-four of

this chapter in the case of county water districts, as now in effect or

as hereafter amended, shall apply, in so far as they may be applicable,

to watershed districts and the administrative heads of watershed

districts shall possess equivalent powers and authority in watershed

district matters, except that the power to purchase or condemn an

existing water system or portion or portions thereof shall not be vested

in or available to a watershed district or on behalf thereof.

3. Limitations on powers and sale of water. The watershed district

shall not by construction of any project works or facilities, or

otherwise, damage, interrupt or interfere with any works, facilities,

project or sources of supply of any person, firm, municipal corporation,

waterworks corporation, public corporation, district or authority or of

any other body or agency engaged in supplying the inhabitants of any

municipality, political subdivision or other civil division of the state

with water, nor shall the watershed district or agency engage in the

supplying of water to such inhabitants. However, the watershed district,

with the approval of the board of supervisors, may by contract agree to

sell any excess water at wholesale to any firm, municipality or other

public or private corporation, district or authority, or other body or

agency engaged in supplying or proposing to supply such inhabitants with

water. All such contracts shall be of no force or effect unless and

until the watershed district shall have received the approval of the

water power and control commission as required by and in the manner

provided by article eleven of the conservation law. The watershed

district may also contract for the sale of excess water directly to a

proposed user for industrial or irrigation purposes. All revenues from

such sales and other revenues of a watershed district shall be collected

and received by the county treasurer, who shall keep a true account of

all such receipts. Such revenues shall be used for said watershed

district purposes only.

4. Recreational use of water. The administrative head or body may

adopt rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the board of

supervisors, for the recreational use of the public for bathing, boating

and fishing in and on the waters impounded in a project reservoir.

5. Acceptance of gifts and services. The watershed district, with the

approval of the board of supervisors, may accept gifts of money and

property from any source, public or private, and shall apply such gifts

to watershed district purposes. The watershed district, with the

approval of the board of supervisors, may enter into contracts with any

municipality or other civil division of the state and with any person,

firm, association and public or private corporation for a contribution

of services or other help in the construction of the project or in its

maintenance.