N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 15-2505

§ 15-2505. Powers of the department.\n Nothing in title 25 of this article shall be held to curtail the\npowers of the department as to river or drainage work within a river\nregulating district prior to the time that such district is charged with\nthe powers and duties above set forth as to river or drainage work or\nboth, nor in any event shall the powers of the department under sections\n15-1945 and 15-1957 be curtailed or changed. Should the department at\nany time form or have formed a river or drainage improvement district in\na basin now or subsequently formed into a river regulating district,\nwhich district is later given the extended powers herein provided, such\nriver or drainage improvement district shall become a sub-district\nadministered by the board. In such cases, all outstanding indebtedness\nand financial liabilities of the district shall remain undisturbed and\nnot in anywise altered by the transfer and shall be met by the board.\n