Whenever a drainage improvement district created pursuant to this article and lying wholly within a county small watershed protection district established pursuant to article 5-D of the County Law has no outstanding debts, liabilities and obligations, the department as the governing body of such drainage improvement district, if it determines after public hearing that the public interest would be served thereby, is hereby authorized to convey, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration as it may deem adequate, if any, all or any part of the real estate or an easement or easements therein, or other property of such drainage improvement district to such county small watershed protection district. Whenever all of the real property and other property is conveyed as authorized herein, such drainage improvement district and the drainage improvement association within such district shall immediately cease to exist, and any and all functions, powers and duties previously possessed, performed and exercised by either of them shall be terminated.