Cooperation with the United States; water quality supervision subject to state authority

(1) A district has the power: (a) To cooperate with the United States in the manner provided by Congress for flood control, reclamation, conservation and allied purposes, such as recreation, in protecting the inhabitants, the land and other property within the district from the effects of a surplus or a deficiency of water when the cooperation of the district is beneficial to the public health, welfare, safety and utility. (b) To have general control and supervision over bodies of water which are owned or maintained, or which have been improved, by the district, insofar as the quality of water may affect the public health, welfare, safety and utility of the bodies of water. (2) In carrying out the authority granted by subsection (1)(b) of this section, the district may prevent any person including any elected or appointed officer, employee or person under the control of a city, county or district, from depositing directly or indirectly in any such bodies of water, any rubbish, filth or poisonous or deleterious substance liable to affect the health of persons, fish or livestock. However, the authority granted by this subsection shall not be exercised unless the Environmental Quality Commission, after study and determination of a specific request of the district, certifies to the district that the quality of a body of water under the jurisdiction of the district is injurious to the health of persons, fish or livestock.