2023 Code of Alabama › Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources. › Chapter 10 - Water Conservation and Irrigation. › Article 1 - Water Conservation and Irrigation Agency. › Section 9-10-5 - Powers and Duties Generally.

Section 9-10-5
Powers and duties generally.
The corporation organized and established under this article shall have the following powers, subject only to the limitations described hereinafter:
(1) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;
(2) To adopt, use and alter a corporate seal which shall be judicially noticed;
(3) To maintain a principal office at a place named in its papers of incorporation and a suboffice or suboffices at such places as it may deem necessary;
(4) To enter into such contracts and cooperative agreements with federal, state and local governments, with agencies of such governments, with private individuals, corporations and associations and other organizations to do any act necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and execution of its powers under this article;
(5) To sue and be sued in its own name;
(6) To enter into agreements with the United States government or its agencies or political subdivisions thereof, with municipalities and with public corporations concerning the sale and use of the water impounded by the United States government, management of the project, collection of charges for water issued to users and repayment costs of the project construction costs;
(7) To acquire, hold and dispose of real and personal property or any interests therein;
(8) To provide a water supply by impounding a stream or by development and use of wells by either construction, lease or purchase;
(9) To develop and operate an irrigation project, including the facilities necessary thereto, either by construction, lease or purchase;
(10) To provide for the control of floods by impounding surplus water or by other means to the extent that such work is economically feasible and desirable and not opposed to the need of water for irrigation;
(11) To provide for multiple purpose developments where such are feasible and not in conflict with need of water for irrigation use, including developments for water power and water for municipal and industrial uses;
(12) To establish rates for water sold to irrigators, municipalities, industries and other customers and authorize collections therefor, such rates to be determined on the basis of the revenue required to operate and maintain the development and for amortization of bonded indebtedness or for repayment to the United States government of the costs of the project when built and constructed with federal funds.
(13) To tax or assess the water user members' land for water charges, which include operation and maintenance annual costs and annual construction costs, which tax or assessment shall be equally prorated on the amount of water used and acreage irrigated or scheduled for irrigation within the irrigation district;
(14) To use such means as are necessary to control soil erosion and silt wherever a project facility or repayment of construction costs is endangered;
(15) To refuse to deliver water to any water user member who is delinquent in his project account or who refuses or fails to comply with rules and regulations of the irrigation project;
(16) To issue revenue bonds and refunding bonds;
(17) To exercise the right of eminent domain in the manner provided in Title 18; provided, that nothing in this article shall be construed to authorize the acquisition by eminent domain of any real property or rights owned or controlled by railroads or utilities, both public and private; and
(18) To accept gifts from any source whatsoever.
(Acts 1965, No. 827, p. 1549, §5.)