45-1941. Cooperation with governmental entities

A. The authority shall cooperate, coordinate and confer with the director of water resources, state agencies, special districts, authorities and other political subdivisions of this state and the United States with respect to matters within their jurisdiction relating to augmenting the water supplies of the county in which the authority is established and developing state water plans.

B. In acquiring, constructing and operating projects, the authority, consistent with the purposes and policies of this chapter, shall cooperate with established and existing organizations for use of or interconnection with suitable diversion, withdrawal, transportation, delivery, treatment, storage or recharge facilities.

C. Any operating unit, or combination of operating units, may request the authority to exercise its powers and privileges in making any project or proposed project survey or investigation, or for assistance in initiating or completing any works or projects authorized by this chapter.

D. The authority may act as:

1. A bargaining and negotiating agency on the request of an operating unit in transactions and dealings between the various departments of the federal government.

2. A connecting, intermediate or contracting medium for operating units if, for united or joint participation, such a medium is convenient or essential to the receipt, acceptance or enjoyment by the operating units of any financial proposals, grants or other benefits made available under any statute or by any entity.

3. A coordinating, clearing, administering or supervising instrumentality by and through which operating units may cooperate or unite through or by contracts or agreements in applying or pooling their resources, functional rights or privileges for common purposes contemplated under this chapter.

4. An entity competent to contract with the United States for the delivery of water, and to subcontract with its operating units pursuant to such terms as the United States and the board deem advisable, and to assign or assume such contracts subject to the terms or limitations the United States and the board deem advisable.

E. Operating units may enter into contracts, agreements and arrangements, including intergovernmental agreements under title 11, chapter 7, article 3, that may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.

F. This section shall not be construed to alter any debt limitation of the operating units.