Lands which are sought to be condemned for water stations, dams, or reservoirs, including all the overflowed lands, if any, shall, if requested by the owner, be set aside in a square or rectangular shape by the department of transportation or district court. [C73, §1242; C97, §1996; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 7813; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §471.11 ; 81 Acts, ch 22, §22 ] 83 Acts, ch 121, §12 C93, §6A.11