SECTIONS 23450-23465

23450.  As used in this article "districts" means one or moreirrigation districts together with one or more county waterdistricts.23451.  As used in this article "contract with the United States"means a contract made under the provisions of the Federal ReclamationLaw for any or all of the following purposes: (a) Acquisition, extension, or operation of works for irrigation,drainage, flood control, or development of electric or other power. (b) A water supply. (c) Assumption as principal or guarantor of indebtedness to theUnited States.23452.  As used in ths article "power rights" includes powerpossibilities, power resources, and power privileges.23453.  Districts may contract with each other pursuant to thisarticle only when both: (a) Each of the districts before or after contracting pursuant tothis article makes a contract with the United States. (b) All of the contracting districts propose to divert or carrywater for use in the districts by means of a single main canal orsystem of works.23454.  Any contract between districts made before each of thedistricts has made a contract with the United States shall beeffective when all of the districts have so contracted with theUnited States.23455.  In any contract between districts they may contract tocompromise and settle any controversies existing between them as tothe extent or priority of their respective rights and claims to theuse of water and agree upon the limitation and definition of theareas within them respectively upon which such water shall bebeneficially used.23456.  Districts may also contract that applications theretoforefiled by either of them with the State Water Rights Board or itspredecessor shall be amended to conform to the provisions of thecontract between them and that permits and licenses be issuedaccordingly.23457.  Districts may also contract to compromise and settle anycontroversies existing between them as to power rights upon the canalor other water system, and for these purposes any of the districtsmay demise to another of the districts all of the power rights whichthe demising district has or thereafter obtains.23458.  The lease may be made for any term not exceeding 99 yearsand may vest in the lessee the operation, management, development,and control of the power rights and the use, sale, and control ofpower produced therefrom. The lease may provide for the payment ofrentals and any other matters relevant to the leasing of the powerrights as the districts may in their discretion deem advisable not inconflict with the Constitution of this State nor with the expressterms of the statutes under which the districts are respectivelyorganized and exist.23459.  Districts may also contract that when the lease has beenexecuted, the lessor may be required upon any terms agreed upon toprocure for the lessee district contracts or applications forelectric power signed by consumers in the lessor district and thatthe lessee district shall serve electric power in the lessor distictat rates and upon terms and conditions prescribed in the contract.23460.  Districts may also contract that they shall cooperate toobtain permits and licenses to appropriate water for power purposesand to construct power facilities from the State Water Rights Boardor any federal agency or both in the manner prescribed in thecontract.23461.  Districts may also contract for any other matters authorizedby law.23462.  Districts so contracting have full power to perform andobserve the contracts in accordance with the tenor and spiritthereof.23463.  Contracts made pursuant to this article shall be liberallyconstrued to effectuate them according to their true intent.23464.  The execution of a contract between districts may beauthorized by resolution of their respective boards.23465.  Any and all such contracts executed prior to September 13,1941, by and between such districts and all acts of boards ofdirectors and other officers of such districts leading up to andincluding the execution of such contract or contracts, are herebylegalized, ratified, confirmed and declared valid to all intents andpurposes, and the power of such districts to execute, carry out,perform and observe such contracts and every provision thereof ishereby ratified, confirmed and declared valid and such contracts arehereby declared to be in all respects the legal and bindingobligations of, against and in favor of each of such contractingdistricts.