Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§595 Consideration of benefits in assessing compensation

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS GENERALLY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - ACQUISITION OF LAND AND MATERIALS › § 595

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the United States takes part of a private parcel for improvements to rivers, harbors, canals, or waterways, the jury or decision-maker setting the owner’s payment must reduce that amount by any special and direct benefits the improvement gives to the land left behind.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §595

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In all cases where private property shall be taken by the United States for the public use in connection with any improvement of rivers, harbors, canals, or waterways of the United States, and in all condemnation proceedings by the United States to acquire lands or easements for such improvements, where a part only of any such parcel, lot, or tract of land shall be taken, the jury or other tribunal awarding the just compensation or assessing the damages to the owner, whether for the value of the part taken or for any injury to the part not taken, shall take into consideration by way of reducing the amount of compensation or damages any special and direct benefits to the remainder arising from the improvement, and shall render their award or verdict accordingly.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is from act July 18, 1918, popularly known as the “Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1918”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 595

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73