§ 4. Notwithstanding the prohibition of sale, abandonment or other
disposition contained in section one of this article, the legislature
may authorize by law the lease or transfer to the federal government of
the barge canal, consisting of the Erie, Oswego, Champlain, Cayuga and
Seneca divisions and the barge canal terminals and facilities for
purposes of operation, improvement and inclusion in the national system
of inland waterways. Such lease or transfer to the federal government
for the purposes specified herein may be made upon such terms and
conditions as the legislature may determine with or without compensation
to the state. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the legislature
from providing annual appropriations for the state's share, if any, of
the cost of operation, maintenance and improvement of the barge canal,
the divisions thereof, terminals and facilities in the event of the
transfer of the barge canal in whole to the federal government whether
by lease or transfer.

The legislature, in determining the state's share of the annual cost
of operation, maintenance and improvement of the barge canal, the
several divisions, terminals and facilities, shall give consideration
and evaluate the benefits derived from the barge canal for purposes of
flood control, conservation and utilization of water resources.