Section 12. Applications for assistance under the federal Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act shall be initiated by the local organization, and may not be initiated by the division. Such applications shall be filed with the division, which may disapprove the same within forty-five days from the date of filing. The division may give approval only to applications submitted by local organizations, but any local or regional voluntary citizens’ group, established under chapter one hundred and eighty for the purpose of furthering water conservation and flood prevention, may join with any local organization in making application to the division for assistance under the federal Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.