A special district may:

     (1) Engage in flood control activities, and investigate, plan, construct, acquire, repair, maintain, and operate improvements, works, projects, and facilities necessary to prevent inundation or flooding from rivers, streams, tidal waters or other waters. Such facilities include dikes, levees, dams, banks, revetments, channels, canals, drainage ditches, tide gates, flood gates, and other works, appliances, machinery, and equipment.

     (2) Engage in drainage control, storm water control, and surface water control activities, and investigate, plan, construct, acquire, repair, maintain, and operate improvements, works, projects, and facilities necessary to control and treat storm water, surface water, and flood water. Such facilities include drains, flood gates, drainage ditches, tide gates, ditches, canals, nonsanitary sewers, pumps, and other works, appliances, machinery, and equipment.

     (3) Engage in lake or river restoration, aquatic plant control, and water quality enhancement activities.

     (4) Take actions necessary to protect life and property from inundation or flow of flood waters, storm waters, or surface waters.

     (5) Acquire, purchase, condemn by power of eminent domain pursuant to chapters 8.08 and 8.25 RCW, or lease, in its own name, necessary property, property rights, facilities, and equipment.

     (6) Sell or exchange surplus property, property rights, facilities, and equipment.

     (7) Accept funds and property by loan, grant, gift, or otherwise from the United States, the state of Washington, or any other public or private source.

     (8) Hire staff, employees, or services, or use voluntary labor.

     (9) Sue and be sued.

     (10) Cooperate with or join the United States, the state of Washington, or any other public or private entity or person for district purposes.

     (11) Enter into contracts.

     (12) Exercise any of the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes.

[2003 c 392 § 1; 1991 c 349 § 17; 1985 c 396 § 19.]