Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102
§682 Malicious Injury to Works; Injury to Navigable Waters by Hydraulic Mining; Penalty
Title 33 › CHAPTER 14 — CALIFORNIA DEBRIS COMMISSION › § 682
Summary
Makes it a crime to intentionally damage, destroy, or try to damage any dam or related water works built under this law to hold or control water. On conviction, the person can be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to five years, or both. Using hydraulic mining that harms navigable U.S. waters in violation of this law is also a crime. On conviction, the person or company can be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §682
Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any person or persons who willfully or maliciously injure, damage, or destroy, or attempt to injure, damage, or destroy, any dam or other work erected under the provisions of this chapter for restraining, impounding, or settling purposes, or for use in connection therewith, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not to exceed the sum of $5,000 or be imprisoned not to exceed five years, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. And any person or persons, company or corporation, their agents or employees, who shall mine by the hydraulic process directly or indirectly injuring the navigable waters of the United States, in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $5,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 682
Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102