Title 25IndiansRelease 119-73

§389 Investigation and adjustment of irrigation charges on lands within projects on Indian reservations

Title 25 › Chapter CHAPTER 11— - IRRIGATION OF ALLOTTED LANDS › § 389

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Interior Secretary must investigate if owners of non-Indian land served by Indian irrigation projects, including ones where the U.S. bought water rights for Indians, cannot pay irrigation charges (construction, maintenance, operating) because of poor soil, limited water, faulty irrigation works, or other causes. If so, the Secretary may reduce, delay, or cancel charges and may make payment contracts that cannot run longer than ten years.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §389

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to cause an investigation to be made to determine whether the owners of non-Indian lands under Indian irrigation projects and under projects where the United States has purchased water rights for Indians are unable to pay irrigation charges, including construction, maintenance, and operating charges, because of inability to operate such lands profitably by reason of lack of fertility of the soil, inadequacy of water supply, defects of irrigation works, or for any other causes. Where the Secretary finds that said landowners are unable to make payment due to the existence of such causes, he may adjust, defer, or cancel such charges, in whole or in part, as the facts and conditions warrant. In adjusting or deferring any such charges the Secretary may enter into contracts with said land owners for the payment of past due charges, but such contracts shall not extend the payment of such charges over a period in excess of ten years.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Flathead Indian Irrigation ProjectAct July 26, 1947, ch. 340, 61 Stat. 494, provided that notwithstanding any provisions of sections 389 to 389e of this title, the Secretary of the Interior could defer the collection of irrigation

Construction

charges on the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project until January 1, 1949. Fort Peck Indian Irrigation ProjectIn accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, the order of the Secretary of the Interior canceling delinquent irrigation operation and maintenance charges of $461.40 and accrued interest thereon for certain lands adjacent to but outside the Fort Peck Indian irrigation project, $206,902.21 against lands within the Fort Peck project, and $118,266.64 of unassessed

Construction

costs allocable against both Indian and non-Indian owned lands in the Fraiser-Wolf Point unit of the Fort Peck project, was approved by Pub. L. 90–143, Nov. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 465. Klamath Indian Irrigation ProjectIn accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, the order of the Secretary of the Interior canceling $401,440.55 of reimbursable irrigation costs and any accrued interest thereon chargeable to lands in the Klamath Indian irrigation project, was approved by Pub. L. 88–456, Aug. 20, 1964, 78 Stat. 554. Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation DistrictAction of the Secretary of the Interior taken on
May 19, 1942, pursuant to authority contained in sections 389 to 389e of this title with respect to lands within the Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District was confirmed by Congress in act Dec. 24, 1942, ch. 816, 56 Stat. 1082. Uintah Indian Irrigation Project Pub. L. 91–403, §§ 1–5, Sept. 18, 1970, 84 Stat. 843, 844, authorized the Secretary of the Interior to reimburse the Ute Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation for tribal funds that were used to construct, operate, and maintain the Uintah Indian irrigation project, Utah. Action of Secretary of the Interior taken pursuant to authority contained in sections 389 to 389e of this title with respect to lands within the Uintah Indian Irrigation Project was confirmed by Congress in act
May 28, 1941, ch. 142, 55 Stat. 209. Wapato Indian Irrigation ProjectIn accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, order of Secretary of the Interior dated Sept. 12, 1962, canceling $4,494.58 of delinquent irrigation charges, providing for the deferred payment of $10,356.03, and providing for the removal of 78.12 acres of assessable land from the Wapato Indian irrigation project, was approved by Pub. L. 88–159, Oct. 28, 1963, 77 Stat. 278. In accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, order of Secretary of the Interior canceling $35,700.72 of delinquent irrigation charges, providing for the deferred payment of $13,851.98, and providing for the removal of two hundred thirty-two and fifty-six one hundredths acres of assessable land from the Wapato Indian irrigation project, was approved by Pub. L. 86–281, Sept. 16, 1959, 73 Stat. 564. Action by the Secretary of the Interior taken Sept. 9, 1942, pursuant to authority contained in sections 389 to 389e of this title with respect to lands within the Wapato Indian irrigation project was confirmed in act Dec. 24, 1942, ch. 815, 56 Stat. 1081. Wind River Indian Irrigation ProjectIn accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, the order of the Secretary of the Interior, canceling delinquent operation and maintenance irrigation charges of $1,134.99 and accrued interest thereon, against lands on the Wind River Indian irrigation project, and a contract for the deferred payment of delinquent charges in the amount of $2,331.59, was approved by Pub. L. 88–116, Sept. 6, 1963, 77 Stat. 151. In accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, the order of the Secretary of the Interior, canceling delinquent irrigation charges of $36,439.70 and accrued interest therein, and providing for a deferred payment of $8,706.27, as shown in schedules A, B, and C of such order, was approved by Pub. L. 87–516,
July 2, 1962, 76 Stat. 128, provided that the cancellation under schedule B not become effective until the landowners agree to pay the balance of such delinquent charges amounting to $1,556.40.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 389

Title 25Indians

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73