§3087.193. District as political subdivision and body corporate; purpose and powers

A. The district shall be a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana and shall have for its purpose the development of the wealth and natural resources of the district by the conservation of soil and water for agricultural, recreational, commercial, industrial, and sanitary purposes. The creation and maintenance of reservoirs within the district shall be for such purposes. The district shall also have as one of its purposes economic development for the district.

B.(1) The district shall constitute a body corporate in law with all powers, rights, privileges, and immunities of a corporation. It may sue and be sued; buy and sell; negotiate and execute contracts; and incur debts and issue negotiable bonds in payment thereof under and in accordance with law. It may acquire by purchase, donation, or lease every type and specie of property, including servitudes and rights-of-use, necessary to its purpose and may lease, build, operate, and maintain any works or machinery designed to accomplish the purposes of the district. The district may acquire by expropriation only property that is to be used (a) for the maximum pool of water at the high water pool stage as determined by the district for a single reservoir to be located in Washington Parish and (b) for ingress to and egress from such a single reservoir as is necessary to construct, safely maintain, and operate such a single reservoir. However, in lieu of purchasing the property, the district may obtain a flood servitude or flowage easement, upon a one-time payment of a negotiated amount, on that land located between the normal pool stage and the maximum flood elevation as determined by the district. It may create an economic development corporation pursuant to R.S. 33:9020 et seq.

(2)(a)(i) Any expropriation exercised pursuant to this Subsection shall, except as provided in this Paragraph, be conducted pursuant to the general expropriation provisions for expropriation by the state or its political subdivisions contained in Part I of Title 19 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(ii) Prior to purchasing property or exercising its right of expropriation, the district shall have the property appraised by an independent appraiser licensed in the state of Louisiana to determine the amount of compensation to be paid the landowner for his property. If an agreement as to compensation cannot be reached between the district and the landowner, then either party may exercise his right to a jury trial under Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution of Louisiana to determine the amount of compensation to be paid.

(b)(i) If a residential mobile home, as defined in R.S. 9:1149.2, is located on land to be taken by the district through expropriation, the district shall make every reasonable effort to relocate the existing residential mobile home to a location within the district as close as practicable to its current location, unless the owner receives the amount due him as allowed by law.

(ii) If a private residence has been built on land to be taken by the district through expropriation, the district shall make every reasonable effort to accommodate the owner of the residence by payment of compensation and by providing a parcel of land equal in value to the parcel of land where the existing home was located and as near as practicable to its current location unless another location is specified by the owner.

C. Pursuant to and in accordance with any statewide laws for the management, protection, or regulation of surface water, the district shall have complete control over the supply of fresh water made available by its facilities, which shall be administered for the benefit of the persons residing or owning property within the district, and if it should be for the benefit of the district, it may sell such water for irrigation, municipal, and industrial uses both within and outside the district.

D. The district shall constitute an agency of the state of Louisiana designed to carry out an essential governmental function of the state. The district shall be exempt from state and local sales and use taxation. It may cooperate and contract with the government of the United States or any department or agency thereof and accept grants and donations of property, money, and anything of value. It may cooperate with the state of Louisiana or any political subdivision, department, agency, or corporation of the state for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities designed to accomplish the purpose for which the district is created on any basis including the matching of funds and by participating in projects authorized by any federal or state law as it shall see fit.

Acts 2003, No. 71, §2, eff. May 28, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 307, §1, eff. June 29, 2005.