A district shall have and may exercise all rights and powers, expressed or implied, necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this chapter, including, but not limited to, all of the following powers:

(a)  To sue and be sued.

(b)  To acquire by purchase, eminent domain, or other lawful means, any real property within the district or any personal property that may be necessary or proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this chapter.

(c)  To sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property. Every sale of property shall be to the highest bidder. The board shall publish notice of the sale pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code. A board of trustees may exchange equivalent properties if the board determines that the exchange is in the best interests of the district.

(d)  To donate any surplus real or personal property to any public agency or nonprofit organization.

(e)  To purchase the supplies and materials, employ the personnel, and contract for the services that may be necessary or proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this chapter.

(f)  To build, repair, and maintain on any land the dikes, levees, cuts, canals, or ditches that may be necessary or proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this chapter.

(g)  To contract to indemnify or compensate any property owner for any injury or damage necessarily caused by the use or taking of real or personal property for dikes, levees, cuts, canals, or ditches.

(h)  To engage necessary personnel, to define their qualifications and duties, and to provide a schedule of compensation for the performance of their duties.

(i)  To engage counsel and other professional services.

(j)  To adopt a seal and alter it at pleasure.

(k)  To provide insurance pursuant to Part 6 (commencing with Section 989) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

( l)  To participate in, review, comment, and make recommendations regarding local, state, or federal land use planning and environmental quality processes, documents, permits, licenses, and entitlements for projects and their potential effects on the purposes and intent of this chapter.

(m)  To take any and all actions necessary for, or incidental to, the powers expressed or implied by this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 395, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2003.)