N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 15-2109: General powers

§ 15-2109. General powers.

1. The board shall have power to make all necessary rules and

regulations which shall be effective when approved by the department.

2. The board and its authorized agents may enter upon any lands as in

its judgment may be necessary for the purpose of making surveys and

examinations to accomplish any purpose authorized by title 21 of this

article, being liable only for actual damage done.

3. The board on behalf of such district shall have and may exercise

all of the powers enumerated in subdivision 1 of section 15-2103 and in

addition thereto all such other powers as are necessary and proper to

carry into execution the powers expressly granted to it, including power

to make such channel improvements as may be necessary to prevent damage

to downstream properties by the waters released from reservoirs. The

board shall have charge of the operation of all reservoirs now in

existence, or hereafter constructed for the regulation of the flow of

the river and its tributaries of the district which it represents, not

including, however, any reservoirs which are or may be maintained

primarily to provide water for the canal system of the state. No

reservoirs for the regulation of the flow of streams or for any other

purpose except for municipal water supply shall be hereafter constructed

in Hamilton or Herkimer counties on the south branch of the Moose River

by any river regulating board.

4. The board shall have the right to establish and maintain stream

gauges and rain gauges, and may make such surveys and examinations of

rainfall, stream flow and flood conditions, and of other scientific and

engineering subjects as may be necessary and proper for the purposes of

the district and shall preserve a record thereof.

5. The board, on behalf of such district, subject to the limitations

of title 21 of this article, shall have a dominant right of eminent

domain over the right of eminent domain of public corporations, except

cities. In exercise of this right, due care shall be taken to do no

unnecessary damage to other public utilities, and in case of failure to

agree upon the mode and terms of interference, not to interfere with

their operation and usefulness beyond the actual necessities of the

case, due regard being paid to the other public interests involved.

6. The board on behalf of such district shall have power to consent to

the transfer of jurisdiction over lands under its jurisdiction to any

state department or a bureau, division or agency thereof, or to any

state agency, upon such terms and conditions and under such regulations

and restrictions as said board shall deem just and proper, providing,

however, that the use of such lands will not interfere with the purposes

for which they were acquired.

7. The board of the Hudson river-Black river regulating district shall

have the power to contract to sell water, upon such terms and conditions

as it deems advisable to any or all of the counties of Albany, Columbia,

Essex, Fulton, Green, Hamilton, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady,

Warren or Washington, which counties are contained within such district.