Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73

§425 Exemption of lands owned by States, etc., from acreage limitation on receipt of irrigation benefits; determination of exempt status

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - ADMINISTRATION OF EXISTING PROJECTS › § 425

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal rules that limit how many acres can get irrigation water from federal reclamation projects do not apply to land owned by a state, a city or county, or their agencies. That only applies while the land is farmed mainly to carry out a public, non-profit purpose and the Secretary of the Interior says it qualifies. While the land keeps that exempt status, it is not treated as extra or "excess" land under the reclamation laws.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §425

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The provisions of Federal reclamation laws (Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388, and Acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto) which limit the acreage of irrigable land which may receive irrigation benefits from, through, or by means of Federal reclamation works, shall not be applicable to lands owned by States, political subdivisions, and agencies thereof, so long as such lands are farmed, primarily in the direct furtherance of a non-revenue-producing public function, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; and to the extent that such lands continue to qualify for the exempted status afforded by this section they shall not be deemed to be excess lands for any purposes whatsoever under said reclamation laws.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Act of June 17, 1902, referred to in text, is popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 371 of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 425

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73