R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-2-12: Acquisition of land for flood control projects authorized.

Whenever the council of any city, or the electors of any town qualified to vote upon any proposition for the imposition of taxes or for the expenditure of money, shall have voted at a meeting duly called for that purpose to cooperate with the state and the federal government in any flood control project in the city or town, the city or town may acquire by gift, purchase, or by eminent domain proceedings as provided in §§ 46-2-12 — 46-2-26, land or other real property or any interest, estate, or right therein as is necessary or advantageous to the establishment, acquisition, construction, development, betterment, or maintenance of the project and from time to time to relocate and construct highways, roads, and streets, including bridges and approaches and other structures, and including water pipes, petroleum pipes, gas pipes, sewers and sewer lines, communication and power lines, railroad tracks and bridges, and other structures, tailraces, raceway conduits, and extensions and connections, incidental thereto, and for the construction or reconstruction of dams and pumping stations, both publicly and privately owned.