Watershed districts may be formed as subdistricts of soil and water conservation districts in a watershed area, as provided in the Watershed District Act, for the purpose of developing and executing plans and programs relating to any phase of conservation of water, or of water usage, including water-based recreation, flood prevention, flood control, erosion prevention and control of erosion, and floodwater and sediment damages.
History: 1953 Comp., § 45-5-22, enacted by Laws 1957, ch. 210, § 4; 1965, ch. 84, § 1; 1973, ch. 332, § 2; 1977, ch. 254, § 46.
District's funds can be used to pay portion of cost of reorganizing irrigations systems. This expenditure of funds is permissible only if the purpose of the reorganization is directly related to the conservation of water or one of the other statutory purposes for which watershed districts are established. 1963 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 63-78.
Construction of flood detention dam is an authorized function of the district since the purpose of watershed districts is the development and execution of plans and programs relating to any phase of conservation of water, etc. 1963 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 63-78.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 94 C.J.S. Waters § 230.