(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to repeal any provisions of the existing levee or drainage laws of the state, nor to curtail the power of any governing board of any drainage district or levee district to contract directly with the federal government or any of its agencies for federal aid, loans, or gifts.
(2) The drainage districts and levee districts are granted power to provide the necessary rights-of-way and to take any other steps or any other undertakings that may be required of the drainage districts and levee districts by the federal government to become beneficiaries of any drainage, levee, or flood control works proposed to be constructed by the federal government.