Chapter 6. Cooperation With The United States of California Water Code >> Division 13. >> Part 5. >> Chapter 6.

Districts may cooperate and contract with the United States, under the Federal Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, and all acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto or any act of Congress heretofore or hereafter enacted permitting cooperation.

The cooperation and contract may be for any or all of the following purposes:
  (a) Acquisition, extension, or operation of works for irrigation or drainage or flood control.
  (b) A water supply.
  (c) Assumption as principal or guarantor of indebtedness to the United States.
  (d) To receive or borrow money from the United States and provide for the repayment thereof, for the purpose of constructing projects, distribution systems or other works for the district or for any distribution district or improvement district formed therein, which said works shall be used for the storage, regulation, control, development and distribution of water for the irrigation of land or for the use, control and distribution of drainage water within the district or for flood control purposes.

Districts may carry out and perform the terms of any contract so made.

To carry out the preceding sections of this article a district has all powers, rights, and privileges possessed by irrigation districts and may exercise those powers, rights, and privileges in the same manner as irrigation districts as provided in the Irrigation District Federal Cooperation Law.

If any provision of the Irrigation District Federal Cooperation Law is held unconstitutional, that decision shall not affect the validity of the adoption by reference in this article of the remaining portions of that law.

In any contract made between a district and the United States pursuant to this chapter, the land which may be charged with any taxes or assessments under the contract shall be designated and described.

A proposal to enter into a contract with the United States for any purpose other than obtaining a water supply shall be authorized at an election.

Proceedings at the election shall be had insofar as applicable in the manner provided in the case of issuance of general obligation bonds.

Notice of the election shall specify: a. The time and place of the election. b. The purpose of the election. c. A brief statement of the general purpose of the contract. d. The amount of money to be paid to the United States under the contract.

The ballots at the election shall contain a brief statement of the general purpose of the contract substantially as stated in the notice of election and the amount of money to be paid to the United States under the contract with the words "Contract--Yes" and "Contract--No."

The board may execute the contract on behalf of the district if two-thirds of the votes cast at the election favor the contract.