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A.  The board shall constitute an instrumentality of the state of Louisiana, exercising public and essential governmental functions.  The exercise by the board of the powers conferred by this Part shall be deemed to be essential governmental functions of this state.  Because the exercise of the powers granted hereby will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living conditions, the board shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any property acquired or used by it under the provisions of this Part or upon the income therefrom.  Any property acquired or used by the board under the provisions of this Part and the income therefrom, and any bonds issued hereunder and the income therefrom shall be exempt from taxation by the state of Louisiana and by any parish, municipality or political subdivision of the state.  The board and the works of the district shall not be deemed to be a public utility and shall not be subject in any respect to the authority, control, or supervision of the Louisiana Public Service Commission or any other regulatory body of the state or any political subdivision thereof.  

B.  In addition to the powers and authority elsewhere granted in this Part, the board shall exercise all powers necessary or convenient for the carrying out of the objects and purposes of the district, including but not necessarily restricted to the powers to:

(1)  Sue and be sued and stand in judgment, with service of process to be made upon the president or secretary of the board.  

(2)  Adopt, use, and alter a corporate seal.  

(3)  Acquire by purchase, donation, lease, or otherwise, and to hold and use any real, personal, or mixed property, whether tangible or intangible, or any interest therein necessary or desirable for carrying out the objects and purposes of the district, and sell, lease, transfer, and convey any property or interest therein at any time acquired by it.  

(4)  Expropriate property and exercise the power of eminent domain, subject to and in accordance with the general laws of the state governing expropriation.  

(5)  Effectuate and maintain proper depths of water to accommodate the business of the district, and adopt and enforce such regulations as are reasonably necessary to control the pollution and blocking of streams and other fresh water bodies within the district.  

(6)  Construct, acquire, and maintain pumping stations, pumps, and pumping facilities, reservoirs, dams, levees, canals, locks, conduits, pipes, water treatment plants, and such other works and constructions as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Part.  

(7)  Transfer water between watersheds in the district; control the water level in and discharge rates from the district’s reservoirs and the lakes, streams, and other bodies of water in the district; regulate the recreational and other purposes for which they may be used, and take and dispose of all natural water flowing into or originating within the district for all of the purposes of this Part; however, the district shall not have authority to destroy or substantially diminish vested water rights without the making of proper compensation therefor.  If it becomes necessary, in order to carry out the purposes for which the district is created, for the board to construct any dam or reservoir the construction of which will have the effect of creating a drainage problem or increasing the severity of a preexistent drainage problem in any city, town, or village within the district, the board shall not undertake the construction of the dam or reservoir without making the necessary provisions and constructing the drainage facilities necessary to offset the effect of the construction of the dam or reservoir and to alleviate the conditions created by the construction.  The provision made for the construction of such drainage facilities shall, prior to the issuance of the bonds of the district for the payment of the cost of the dam or reservoir, be approved by the director of public works, and his approval shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Paragraph.  

(8)  Impound, treat, and distribute to consumers of every kind, all water which may be made available by reason of its facilities, make appropriate charges therefor, make and impose appropriate fees and charges for all facilities and services made available by the district; however, no charges or fees shall be imposed which would have the effect of materially impairing any water rights presently vested in the owners of property in the district.  

(9)  Adopt rules and regulations governing the fixing and collection of charges and fees for water and services supplied by its properties and facilities; enter into contracts, leases, and other agreements, operative within and without the district, with any consumer of water or water service, including political subdivisions and agencies and instrumentalities of the state, governing the sale or purchase of water; and enter into such contracts, leases, and agreements for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of properties and facilities and for the carrying out of any of its corporate powers.  

(10)  Incur nonfunded debt not to exceed in the aggregate the net amount of the unpledged estimated revenue for the current year; issue certificates of indebtedness due not more than one year after date and as security therefor pledge not more than seventy-five per cent of the estimated revenues for the current year; and issue revenue bonds of the district from time to time, in such principal amount as is necessary for capital outlay, including the cost of acquisition of property rights and rights of way and compensation for such severance and other collateral damages necessarily incurred in connection with such acquisition, and prescribe the conditions and details of such bonds within the limitations hereinafter set forth.  

Such bonds of the district shall be authorized by one or more resolutions of the board, shall be payable solely from the income and revenues to be derived from the operation of the facilities of the district, and shall not constitute an indebtedness or pledge of the general credit of the district.  The bonds shall be of such series; bear such date or dates; mature at such time or times not exceeding fifty years from their respective dates; bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding six per cent per annum, payable semiannually; be in such denominations; be in such form, either coupon or fully registered without coupons; carry such registration and exchangeability privileges; be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places; be subject to such terms of redemption not exceeding one hundred five per cent of the principal amount thereof, and be entitled to such priorities on the aforesaid income and revenues as the resolution or resolutions provide.  So long as any of such bonds are outstanding, the board shall impose and collect fees and charges for the water and services furnished by its facilities in such amounts and at such rates as are fully sufficient at all times to (1) pay the expenses of operating and maintaining the facilities; (2) provide a sinking fund sufficient to assure the prompt payment of principal of and interest on the bonds as each falls due; (3) provide such reasonable fund for contingencies as may be required by the resolution authorizing the bonds, and (4) provide an adequate depreciation fund for repairs, extensions, and improvements to the facilities necessary to assure adequate and efficient service to the public.  

Added by Acts 1975, No. 28, §1.