Chapter 2. General Powers And Functions of California Water Code >> Division 14. >> Part 6. >> Chapter 2.
The board has all powers and authority necessary to enable
it to fully perform the duties imposed upon it by this division.
The board may enter into any agreement with the United
States or with any state, county, district, public corporation, or
municipality of any kind, for a purpose appertaining to or beneficial
to the project of the district, and it may do any acts necessary or
proper for the performance of the agreement.
The board may:
(a) Adopt a seal.
(b) Make and execute all necessary contracts.
(c) Employ and appoint such agents, officers, and employees as may
be required, and prescribe their duties.
(d) Itself or by agents enter upon any lands to make surveys,
locate works, or for any other necessary and lawful purpose.
The board may construct works across or intersecting any
stream of water, watercourse, street, avenue, highway, railway, or
conduit in such manner as to afford security for life and property.
The board shall restore any property altered or damaged when
so crossed or intersected to its former state as nearly as may be,
or in a manner so as not to have impaired unnecessarily its
usefulness.
Every company whose railroad is intersected or crossed by
the works shall unite with the board in forming intersections and
crossings, and grant privileges necessary to construct the works.
If any railroad company and the board, or the owners and
controllers of the property to be crossed, cannot agree upon the
amount to be paid for the privilege, or the points or the matter of
the crossings or intersections, the same shall be ascertained and
determined in all respects as provided in this division in respect to
the taking of land.
The right of way is hereby given, dedicated, and set apart
for the location, construction, and maintenance of works over and
through any land which is or may be the property of this State.
All waters and water rights belonging to this State within
the district are given, dedicated, and set apart for the uses and
purposes of the district.
The department and board shall, respectively, cause to be
entered in books to be kept for that purpose a complete and connected
record of all their acts and transactions. All contracts and other
written instruments shall be executed in duplicate, one copy of each
of which, together with any other documents, instruments, or other
papers filed with them, shall be kept and preserved on file in their
respective offices and open to inspection by the public during
business hours.
The records and all documents, instruments, or other papers
filed with the department, commission, or board, or a copy or copies
of any thereof certified by the department, commission, or secretary,
shall be received in evidence without further proof in any court of
this State, or before any board or tribunal authorized to hear or
consider a matter wherein the same are properly admissible in
evidence.
Whenever it deems it necessary for its own guidance or for
the best interests of the district, the board may submit any question
or proposition relating to the construction, improvement, or
operation of the works or the carrying out of the project of the
district to the qualified voters of the district at any general
election or at a special election called for the purpose. The
election shall be in all respects conducted as other elections in the
district.