§ 723. Powers of supervisors

The supervisors shall have the following powers:

(1) To conduct surveys, investigations and research relating to the character of soil erosion and its prevention and control measures and natural resources conservation;

(2) To conduct demonstration projects within the district on lands owned or controlled by this State or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction, and on any other lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the owners of the lands or the necessary rights or interests in the lands in order to demonstrate by example the means, methods and measures by which soil erosion, in all its forms can be prevented and controlled and the conservation of natural resources;

(3) To carry out measures for the prevention and control of soil and stream bank erosion and the protection and conservation of natural resources, within the district including, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, and the changes in use of land, on lands owned or controlled by this State or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction, and on any other lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the owner of the lands;

(4) To cooperate, or enter into agreements with, and, within the limits of appropriations duly made available, to furnish financial or other aid to any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any owner of lands within the district, in the carrying on of erosion-control and prevention operations and conservation of natural resources within the district, subject to such conditions as the supervisors may deem necessary to advance the purposes of this chapter;

(5) To obtain options upon and to acquire by purchase, exchange, lease, gift, grant or bequest, any property, real or personal; to maintain, administer and improve any properties acquired; to receive income from the properties and to expend the income in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this chapter; and to borrow money, mortgage, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any of its property or interests in property in furtherance of the purposes and the provisions of this chapter, provided however, that real estate shall not be mortgaged, and provided however, that the sale, lease, or other disposition of real property of the district is approved by the written consent of the governor;

(6) To make available, on such terms as it shall prescribe, to landowners within the district, agricultural and engineering machinery and equipment, fertilizer, seeds, and seedlings, and such other material or equipment as will assist the land owners to carry on operations upon their lands for the conservation of soil resources, control of soil and stream bank erosion, and protection and conservation of natural resources;

(7) To construct, improve, and maintain such structures as may be necessary or convenient for the performance of any of the operations authorized in this chapter;

(8) To develop comprehensive plans for the conservation of soil resources and for the control and prevention of soil erosion and the protection and conservation of natural resources within the district, which plans shall specify in such detail as may be possible, the acts, procedures, performances, and avoidances that are necessary or desirable, and to publish such plans and information and bring them to the attention of occupiers of lands within the district;

(9) To administer by purchase, grant, or lease any soil conservation, erosion-control or natural resources conservation project located within its boundaries that are undertaken by the United States or any of its agencies; to manage as agent of the United States or any of its agencies, any soil-conservation, erosion-control, or natural resources conservation project within its boundaries; to act as agent for the United States, or any of its agencies, in connection with the acquisition, construction, operation, or administration of any soil-conservation, erosion-control, or natural resources conservation project within its boundaries; to accept donations, gifts, and contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise, from the United States or any of its agencies, or from this state or any of its agencies or any private institution or source, and to use or expend such monies, services, materials, or other contributions in carrying on its operations;

(10) To sue and be sued in the name of the district; to have a seal which shall be judicially noticed; to have perpetual succession unless terminated as hereinafter provided; to make and to execute contracts necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers; to make, and from time to time amend and repeal, rules not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, to carry into effect its purposes and powers;

(11) As a condition to the extending of any benefits under this chapter, the supervisors may require contributions to any operations conferring such benefits. (Amended 1964, No. 12 (Sp. Sess.), eff. March 5, 1964; 1995, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. May 15, 1996.)