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Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73

§423 Permanently unproductive lands; exclusion from project; disposition of water right

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - ADMINISTRATION OF EXISTING PROJECTS › § 423

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the Board of Survey and Adjustments finds land permanently unproductive under House Document 201 (69th Congress, 1st Session), as changed by General Recommendations 2 and 4 (page 60), that land must be removed from the project and not get water unless it is put back. The United States will handle the land’s water right under the reclamation law; project users have first priority, and any temporary extra water may be rented for excluded lands with the Secretary of the Interior’s approval.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §423

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

All lands found by the classification made under the supervision of the Board of Survey and Adjustments (House Document 201, 69th Congress, 1st Session, checked and modified as outlined in General Recommendations numbered 2 and 4, Page 60 of said document), to be permanently unproductive shall be excluded from the project and no water shall be delivered to them after the date of such exclusion unless and until they are restored to the project. Except as herein otherwise provided, the water right formerly appurtenant to such permanently unproductive lands shall be disposed of by the United States under the reclamation law: Provided, That the water users on the proj­ects shall have a preference right to the use of the water: And provided further, That any surplus water temporarily available may be furnished upon a rental basis for use on lands excluded from the project under this section, on terms and conditions to be approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Sections 423 to 423g and 610 Unaffected by Sections 451 to 451k of This TitleAct Aug. 13, 1953, ch. 428, § 10, 67 Stat. 568, provided in part that: “Nothing contained in this Act [enacting sections 451 to 451k of this title] shall be held to repeal, supersede, or supplement the provisions for exchange and matters related thereto contained in the Act of May 25, 1926 (44 Stat. 636), as amended and supplemented [sections 423 to 423g and 610 of this title].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 423

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73