N.Y. CNT Law § 299-O

§ 299-o. Establishment of a county small watershed protection\ndistrict. When the agency has the complete final maps, plans,\nspecifications and cost estimates for a project, as provided in section\ntwo hundred ninety-nine-n of this article, the agency shall petition the\nboard of supervisors that a certain area or areas of the county as\ndelineated in the maps, plans and specifications be established as a\nwatershed district.\n Proceedings shall be taken in the manner prescribed in sections two\nhundred fifty-four through two hundred sixty of this chapter in the case\nof county water districts, as now in effect or as hereafter required,\nand all of the provisions of said sections shall apply, in so far as\napplicable, to proceedings for the establishment of a watershed\ndistrict, except that in relation to the public hearings required by\nsection two hundred fifty-four, only the public hearing by the board of\nsupervisors shall be necessary for the establishment of a watershed\ndistrict.\n The governing body of any municipality within the county may petition\nthe board of supervisors for the establishment of a watershed district.\nUpon receipt of such petition, the chairman of the board of supervisors\nshall forthwith refer it to the agency for study and recommendations.\n All other requests for the establishment of a watershed district shall\nbe presented to the agency or to the board of supervisors if no such\nagency exists. The agency or the board of supervisors, as the case may\nbe, shall have authority to prescribe the form, content and manner in\nwhich such requests shall be made. The agency, if one exists, shall\nstudy such requests and make recommendations thereon to the board of\nsupervisors.\n After a watershed district has been created and a project has been\napproved for construction it shall be the responsibility of the county\nto require the watershed district to construct, operate, repair and\nmaintain the project works and facilities in accordance with the plans\nand specifications and to accomplish and maintain the project and\npurpose for which the watershed district was created.\n