2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 37 - WATER AND IRRIGATION (§§ 37-1-101 — 37-99-103) › WATER CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION DISTRICTS (§§ 37-40-101 — 37-50-142) › CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION DISTRICTS (§§ 37-41-101 — 37-50-142) › Article 48 - RIO GRANDE WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (§§ 37-48-101 — 37-48-195) › Section 37-48-191 - Cooperative powers

(1)
The district and any subdistrict have the power to utilize and may utilize private industry, by contract, to carry out the design, construction, operation, management, manufacturing, marketing, planning, and research and development functions of the district or any subdistrict proceeding under this article, unless the district or subdistrict determines that it is in the public interest to adopt another course of action. The district or subdistrict, or both, may enter into long-term contracts with private persons, not exceeding a term of seventy-five years, without an election, for the performance of any such functions of the district or subdistrict, which, in the opinion of the district or subdistrict, can desirably and conveniently be carried out by a private person under contract; but any such contract shall contain such terms and conditions as shall enable the district or subdistrict to retain reasonable supervision and control of such functions to be carried out or performed by such private persons pursuant to such contract.
(2)
Subject to the provisions of section
37-48-175
, the district and any subdistrict have the following powers:
(a)
To accept contributions, grants, or loans from the state and the federal government for the purpose of financing the planning, acquisition, improvement, equipment, maintenance, and operation of any enterprise in which the district or subdistrict, or both, are authorized to engage, and to enter into contracts and cooperate with, and accept cooperation from, the federal government, the state, the subdistrict or the district, respectively, any political subdivision, any private firm, and any other person, or any combination thereof, in the planning, acquisition, improvement, equipment, maintenance, and operation, and in financing the planning, acquisition, improvement, equipment, maintenance, and operation of any such enterprise in accordance with any legislation which the general assembly, congress, the governing body of any political subdivision, the board of directors or other governing body of any private firm, any other person, or any combination thereof may have adopted prior to the adoption of this article or may thereafter adopt, under which aid, assistance, and cooperation may be furnished by such cooperating entity or entities or other persons in the planning, acquisition, improvement, equipment, maintenance, and operation, or in financing the planning, acquisition, improvement, equipment, maintenance, and operation of any such enterprise, including, without limitation, costs of engineering, architectural, and economic investigations and studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures, and other action preliminary to the acquisition, improvement, or equipment of any facilities, or any part thereof, and to do any and all things necessary in order to avail itself of such aid, assistance, and cooperation under any state, federal, or other legislation;
(b)
To enter into, without any election, joint operating or service contracts and agreements; acquisition, improvement, equipment, or disposal contracts; or other arrangements for any term not exceeding seventy-five years, with the federal government, the state, the subdistrict or the district, respectively, any political subdivision, any private firm, or any other person, or any combination thereof, concerning the facilities, and any project or property pertaining thereto, whether acquired or undertaken by the district, by the subdistrict, by the federal government, by this state, by any political subdivision of this state or any other state, or by any person; and to accept contributions, grants, or loans from the cooperating entity or entities or other persons in connection therewith;
(c)
To enter into and perform without any election, when determined by the board of directors to be in the public interest, contracts and agreements, for any term not exceeding seventy-five years, with the federal government, the subdistrict or the district, respectively, the state, any political subdivision, or any person, or any combination thereof, for the provision and operation by the subdistrict or the district, respectively, of any facilities pertaining to such facilities of the district or subdistrict, as the case may be, any part thereof, or any project relating thereto, and the payment periodically thereby to the district or subdistrict of amounts at least sufficient, if any, in the determination of the board, to compensate the district or subdistrict for the cost of providing, operating, and maintaining such facilities serving the federal government, the subdistrict or the district, respectively, the state, any political subdivision, or such other person, or any combination thereof, or otherwise;
(d)
To enter into and perform, without any election, contracts and agreements, on a public bid basis, a competitive basis, or a negotiated basis, as the board of directors may determine, with the federal government, the subdistrict or the district, respectively, the state, any political subdivision, any private firm, or any other person, or any combination thereof, for or concerning the planning, construction, lease, other acquisition, improvement, equipment, operation, maintenance, disposal, and financing of any property pertaining to the facilities of the district or subdistrict or to any project of the district or subdistrict, including, without limitation, any contract or agreement for any term not exceeding seventy-five years, pertaining to the joint ownership of the facilities as tenants in common thereamong, providing for the exchange of water or electric power, for backup water or power, pooling of resources, the designation of a manager for any such project or facilities supervised by an engineering and operating committee of co-owners, or otherwise supervised; and otherwise to contract with water or power producers or users, or both;
(e)
To cooperate with and act in conjunction with the federal government or any of its engineers, officers, boards, commissions, or departments, or with the state or any of its engineers, officers, boards, commissions, or departments, or with any political subdivision or any person in the acquisition, improvement, and equipment of any facilities or any part thereof authorized for the district or subdistrict or for any other works, acts, or purposes provided for in this article and to adopt and carry out any definite plan or system of work for any such purpose;
(f)
To cooperate with the federal government, the subdistrict or district, respectively, the state, any political subdivision, or any person, or any combination thereof, by an agreement therewith by which the district or the subdistrict may:
(I)
Acquire and provide, without cost to the cooperating entity or entities, the land, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for the acquisition, improvement, and equipment of any properties;
(II)
Hold the cooperating entity or entities free from and save it or them harmless from any claim for damages arising from the acquisition, improvement, equipment, maintenance, and operation of any facilities;
(III)
Maintain and operate any facilities in accordance with regulations prescribed by the cooperating entity or entities; and
(IV)
Establish and enforce regulations, if any, concerning the facilities which are satisfactory to the cooperating entity or entities;
(g)
To provide, by any contract for any term not exceeding seventy-five years, or otherwise, without an election:
(I)
For the joint use of personnel, equipment, and facilities of the district, the subdistrict, the state, any political subdivision, or any person, or any combination thereof, including, without limitation, public buildings constructed by or under the supervision of the board of directors, the state, the governing body of the political subdivision, or the board of directors or other governing body of a private firm or other person concerned, upon such terms and agreements and within such areas within the district or subdistrict, or otherwise, as may be determined, for the promotion and protection of health, comfort, safety, life, welfare, and property of the inhabitants of the district or subdistrict and any such political subdivision and any other persons of interest, and for water or electric services;
(II)
For the joint employment of clerks, stenographers, and other employees pertaining to the facilities or any project, now existing or hereafter established, upon such terms and conditions as may be determined for the equitable apportionment of the expenses resulting therefrom;
(h)
To provide for comprehensive planning and, where possible, coordinate operations of the district or subdistrict with the subdistrict or district, respectively, any and all such political subdivisions, private firms, and other persons, or any combination thereof, pertaining to water conservation and use and to the generation and use of electricity.
L. 77: Entire section added, p. 1686, § 16, effective June 9.