§617f Canals and appurtenant structures; transfer of title; power development

Summary

After all money advanced has been repaid to the United States with interest, the Secretary of the Interior can transfer ownership of the canal and its related structures — but not the Laguna Dam or the main canal and related parts down to and including Syphon Drop — to the districts or federal agencies that have a stake in it. The shares they get match how much each paid toward the project and must be in a form the Secretary accepts. Those districts or agencies may use any power‑generation opportunities on the canal by contract or agreement, in proportion to how much they paid for the canal from the diversion works to each power plant site. Net income from any power projects goes into the fund and is credited to those districts or agencies under their contracts, in proportion to their development rights, until they have paid an amount equal to the operation and maintenance costs and the construction cost.