Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73
§945a Compensation for rights-of-way for certain reclamation projects
Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 22— - RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OTHER EASEMENTS IN PUBLIC LANDS › § 945a
Summary
Interior Secretary must pay compensation, including severance damages, to landowners for ditches or canals in reclamation projects begun after January 1, 1961, despite U.S. rights, state law, or prior agreements or judgments before September 2, 1964.
Full Legal Text
Title 43, §945a
Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Notwithstanding the existence of any reservation of right-of-way to the United States for canals under section 945 of this title, or any State statute, the Secretary of the Interior shall pay just compensation, including severance damages, to the owners of private land utilized for ditches or canals in connection with any reclamation project, or any unit or any division of a reclamation project, provided the construction of said ditches or canals commenced after January 1, 1961, and such compensation shall be paid notwithstanding the execution of any agreements or any judgments entered in any condemnation proceeding, prior to September 2, 1964.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1966—Pub. L. 89–624 inserted “to the United States” and “or any State statute,”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1966 Amendment Pub. L. 88–561, § 3, as added by Pub. L. 89–624, Oct. 4, 1966, 80 Stat. 874, provided that: “The amendment made by this Act [enacting section 945b of this title and amending this section] shall apply to any condemnation action pending in any district court of the United States on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 4, 1966] and to any such action instituted after that date.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 945a
Title 43 — Public Lands
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73