(1) The members of the local governing body of a soil and water conservation district shall have, in addition to the powers granted to them by ORS § 568.550 and within the limits of appropriations and other moneys duly made available to the soil and water conservation district, the power:

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(a) To plan, construct, maintain, manage, administer or control any works of improvement for flood prevention or for the conservation, development, utilization or disposal of water upon lands within their respective districts upon obtaining the consent of the landowner as defined in ORS § 568.210, and the land occupier as defined in ORS § 568.210, of such lands.

(b) To enter into written agreements to furnish financial or other aid to any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any landowner as defined in ORS § 568.210, or land occupier as defined in ORS § 568.210, or both of them, of lands within the district, for flood prevention or for the conservation, development, utilization or disposal of water within their respective districts.

(c) To manage, as agent, or to take over, by purchase, lease, or otherwise any flood prevention, drainage, irrigation or agricultural water management project or any combination thereof, undertaken by the United States or any of its agencies, or by this state or any of its agencies.

(2) Authority granted under this chapter shall be subject to the authority of the Water Resources Commission to formulate an integrated, coordinated program for the use and control of all water resources of this state and to classify and withdraw water resources of this state under ORS § 536.300 to 536.410. [1961 c.640 § 1]