New York Laws
Article 5-D - County Small Watershed Protection Districts
299-O - Establishment of a County Small Watershed Protection District.

§ 299-o. Establishment of a county small watershed protection
district. When the agency has the complete final maps, plans,
specifications and cost estimates for a project, as provided in section
two hundred ninety-nine-n of this article, the agency shall petition the
board of supervisors that a certain area or areas of the county as
delineated in the maps, plans and specifications be established as a
watershed district.

Proceedings shall be taken in the manner prescribed in sections two
hundred fifty-four through two hundred sixty of this chapter in the case
of county water districts, as now in effect or as hereafter required,
and all of the provisions of said sections shall apply, in so far as
applicable, to proceedings for the establishment of a watershed
district, except that in relation to the public hearings required by
section two hundred fifty-four, only the public hearing by the board of
supervisors shall be necessary for the establishment of a watershed
district.

The governing body of any municipality within the county may petition
the board of supervisors for the establishment of a watershed district.
Upon receipt of such petition, the chairman of the board of supervisors
shall forthwith refer it to the agency for study and recommendations.

All other requests for the establishment of a watershed district shall
be presented to the agency or to the board of supervisors if no such
agency exists. The agency or the board of supervisors, as the case may
be, shall have authority to prescribe the form, content and manner in
which such requests shall be made. The agency, if one exists, shall
study such requests and make recommendations thereon to the board of
supervisors.

After a watershed district has been created and a project has been
approved for construction it shall be the responsibility of the county
to require the watershed district to construct, operate, repair and
maintain the project works and facilities in accordance with the plans
and specifications and to accomplish and maintain the project and
purpose for which the watershed district was created.