Nothing in sections 278.160 to 278.300 shall prevent water conservation districts, flood prevention districts, drainage districts, counties or townships or other similar units of government with taxmaking powers from cooperating with the federal government through their program as outlined in Public Law 566, 83rd Congress (16 U.S.C.A. Section 1001 et seq.), and amended in Public Law 1018, 84th Congress, in areas where there is at present no soil and water conservation district.