Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102
§608 Construction of Fishways
Title 33 › CHAPTER 12 — RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS GENERALLY › SUBCHAPTER IV — PARTICULAR WORK OR IMPROVEMENTS › § 608
Summary
If river or harbor work (like dams) blocks fish from passing, the Army Secretary may build and pay for fishways out of the stream’s general appropriations.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §608
Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whenever river and harbor improvements shall be found to operate (whether by lock and dam or otherwise), as obstructions to the passage of fish, the Secretary of the Army may, in his discretion, direct and cause to be constructed practical and sufficient fishways, to be paid for out of the general appropriations for the streams on which such fishways may be constructed.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section is from act Aug. 11, 1888, the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1888.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act
July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II, 61 Stat. 501. section 205(a) of act
July 26, 1947, was repealed by section 53 of act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 641. section 1 of act Aug. 10, 1956, enacted “Title 10, Armed Forces” which in sections 3010 to 3013 continued Department of the Army under administrative supervision of Secretary of the Army.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 608
Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102