Any irrigation district heretofore or hereafter organized under the laws of this state desiring so to do, and having received the petition required by and complied with the provisions of section 43-308 as amended, and sections 43-309, 43-310, 43-311, 43-312, [Idaho Code,] may exercise, and it is hereby given, all the functions, powers and authority of a drainage district and of its board of commissioners under the laws of this state relating to drainage districts. The functions, powers and authority granted by this act shall be exercised by such irrigation district through its board of directors and, so far as may be, in the manner provided in the drainage district laws of the state.