Article 3. Cooperation With The United States of California Water Code >> Division 21. >> Part 5. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 3.

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

The cooperation or contract may be for any or all of the following purposes:
  (a) Acquisition or construction of works authorized by this division.
  (b) A water supply.
  (c) Acquisition or disposal of water or water rights or water storage or conservation facilities and rights, and any interest in such water, water rights, or water storage or conservation facilities.
  (d) Acquisition or construction of works for any useful purpose.
  (e) Investigation, study, or preparation of proposals or plans for any or all of the above purposes.
  (f) Obligation of the district to repay to the United States advances of funds made by the United States to the district for any or all of the above purposes.
  (g) Assumption as principal or guarantor of indebtedness to the United States.

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

As used in this article, "United States" includes the United States, and any board, bureau, agency, office or officers, department, or corporation of the United States.

The board shall generally perform all acts necessary to exercise the authority conferred by this article, except that if the issuance of bonds of the district is necessary for such purposes, the bonds shall be voted upon and issued in the manner provided in this division for the incurring of bonded indebtedness of the district.

When, in furtherance of a contract made with the United States, bonds of a district are authorized, such bonds may be transferred to or deposited with the United States, at not less than their par value. In such case, the interest or principal, or both, of such bonds may be legally paid to the United States and applied to the amount, or any part thereof, to be paid by the district to the United States, as provided in the contract.

The board may accept, on behalf of the district, appointment of the district as fiscal agent of the United States, or authorization of the district by the United States to make collection of money for, and on behalf of, the United States, and to assume the duties and liabilities incidental thereto. The board may do any and all things required by the federal statutes now or hereafter enacted in connection therewith, and all things required by any rules or regulations now or hereafter established under any such federal statutes.

A contract entered into between a district and the United States may provide that the district shall not be dissolved, nor shall the boundaries be changed except upon the written consent of an official of the United States filed with the official records of the district. If such consent is given and the lands excluded, the area excluded shall be free from all liens and charges for payments to become due to the United States under any such contract.

As whole or partial consideration for any privileges obtained by a district under any contract with the United States, any rights-of-way or rights to water or to the property owned or acquired by the district may be conveyed by the board to the United States insofar as they may be needed for the construction, operation, and maintenance of works by the United States for the benefit of the district pursuant to such contract.