If the board of supervisors determines the authority is needed, it shall determine the number of directors who shall comprise the board of directors of the watershed management authority. The board of directors of the watershed management authority shall include at least one resident from each county located within the boundaries of the authority. The board of supervisors of a soil and water conservation district in which is situated a county or a portion of a county that is in a watershed management authority, shall determine if the member of the original board of directors of the watershed management authority, who, pursuant to this chapter must reside in said county, shall be appointed or elected. For the purposes of this chapter said directors shall be referred to as “resident directors.” The method of selection chosen shall be proclaimed by resolution. If the original member of the board of directors is to be elected, the director shall be elected as provided in Section 9-10A-10. If the original director is to be appointed, the board of supervisors referred to in this paragraph, shall appoint the director by majority vote.

If the number of directors comprising the original board of directors exceeds the number of counties within the boundaries of the authority, after a director who is a resident of every county within the boundaries of the authority is either appointed or elected as provided herein, the remaining members of the original board of directors shall be either elected or appointed as determined by the several boards of supervisors who approved the establishment of the watershed management authority acting as a joint board of supervisors. The method of selection chosen shall be proclaimed by resolution. For the purposes of this chapter, said directors shall be referred to as “at large directors.” If said at large original director or directors are to be selected by means of an election, said director or directors shall be elected as provided in Section 9-10A-10. If said at large original director or directors are to be appointed, the several boards of supervisors shall appoint said director or directors by majority vote.

The several boards of supervisors who approved the establishment of the watershed management authority shall by resolution designate and assign the terms of office of the original appointed and elected members of the board of directors, said terms shall be staggered and the terms shall be no greater than four years nor less than two years. Said appointed and elected members of the board of directors’ term of office shall commence on the date the board of supervisors adopts said resolution. Those individuals appointed or those elected pursuant to Section 9-10A-10, and their successors shall constitute the board of directors of the watershed management authority.

Vacancies on the board of directors occurring before the expiration of a term shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by appointment by the remaining members of the board of directors of the watershed management authority.

An oath as provided in Section 279 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, shall be administered to all board members prior to assuming office.

A director shall hold office until his successor is appointed or elected and assumes office.