Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102
§524 Rights-of-way for Dams, Reservoirs, or Water Plants for Municipal, Mining, and Milling Purposes
Title 16 › CHAPTER 2 — NATIONAL FORESTS › SUBCHAPTER I — ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION › § 524
Summary
Gives U.S. people and companies permission to build and keep dams, reservoirs, water plants, and water channels in national forests for city or mining uses (including ore milling) while used, under rules from the Interior Secretary and the state law.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §524
Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Rights-of-way for the construction and maintenance of dams, reservoirs, water plants, ditches, flumes, pipes, tunnels, and canals, within and across the national forests of the United States, are granted to citizens and corporations of the United States for municipal or mining purposes, and for the purposes of the milling and reduction of ores, during the period of their beneficial use, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, and subject to the laws of the State or Territory in which said forests are respectively situated.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Repeals
Section repealed by Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 706(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2793, effective on and after Oct. 21, 1976, insofar as applicable to the issuance of rights-of-way over, upon, under, and through the public lands and lands in the National Forest System.
Editorial Notes
Codification “National forests” and “forests” substituted in text for “forest reserves” and “reserves”, respectively, on authority of act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1269, which provided that forest reserves shall hereafter be known as national forests.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Savings Provision
Repeal by Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 706(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2793, insofar as applicable to the issuance of rights-of-way, not to be construed as terminating any valid lease, permit, patent, etc., existing on Oct. 21, 1976, see note set out under section 1701 of Title 43, Public Lands.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 524
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102