Section 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.