Lease or transfer of barge canal to federal government authorized

§ 4. Notwithstanding the prohibition of sale, abandonment or other\ndisposition contained in section one of this article, the legislature\nmay authorize by law the lease or transfer to the federal government of\nthe barge canal, consisting of the Erie, Oswego, Champlain, Cayuga and\nSeneca divisions and the barge canal terminals and facilities for\npurposes of operation, improvement and inclusion in the national system\nof inland waterways. Such lease or transfer to the federal government\nfor the purposes specified herein may be made upon such terms and\nconditions as the legislature may determine with or without compensation\nto the state. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the legislature\nfrom providing annual appropriations for the state's share, if any, of\nthe cost of operation, maintenance and improvement of the barge canal,\nthe divisions thereof, terminals and facilities in the event of the\ntransfer of the barge canal in whole to the federal government whether\nby lease or transfer.\n The legislature, in determining the state's share of the annual cost\nof operation, maintenance and improvement of the barge canal, the\nseveral divisions, terminals and facilities, shall give consideration\nand evaluate the benefits derived from the barge canal for purposes of\nflood control, conservation and utilization of water resources.\n