Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102

§701f–3 Expenditure in Watersheds of Funds Appropriated for Flood Prevention Purposes

Title 33 › CHAPTER 15 — FLOOD CONTROL › § 701f–3

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Starting May 23, 1955, money set aside for flood prevention can be used in watersheds already allowed under section 13 of the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, as amended. The funds may pay for needed work to stop erosion and damage from floodwater and sediment, such as gully control, floodwater detention, and floodway structures. If an area is not under the Department of the Army’s control, the money can be spent there. If the Army does have control, the Secretary may make agreements with the Army to do the work together. Where the Secretary is allowed to buy land rights for these structures, the Secretary may instead pay local organizations a fair share of the cost for land rights they provide, taking the national interest into account.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §701f–3

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

On and after May 23, 1955, the funds appropriated for flood prevention purposes may be expended in watersheds heretofore authorized by section 13 of the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, as amended, for necessary measures for the prevention of erosion, floodwater, and sediment damages, including gully control, floodwater detention, and floodway structures, in areas other than those over which the Department of the Army has jurisdiction and responsibility, and where the Army does have jurisdiction and responsibility, may enter into agreements with the Army to carry out jointly the measures heretofore set out and in areas where the Secretary is authorized to purchase land rights for structural measures, the Secretary in lieu of such acquisition, may reimburse local organizations for such proportionate share of the cost of land rights furnished by local organizations as the Secretary deems equitable in consideration of the national interest.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 13 of the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, referred to in text, is section 13 of act Dec. 22, 1944, ch. 665, 58 Stat. 905, which was not classified to the Code. Such section 13 authorized the following works of improvement for run-off and waterflow retardation, and soil erosion prevention: Los Angeles River Basin; Santa Ynez River Watershed; Trinity River Basin (Texas); Little Tallahatchie River Watershed; Yazoo River Watershed; Coosa River Watershed (above Rome, Georgia); Little Sioux River Watershed; Potomac River Watershed; Buffalo Creek Watershed (New York); Colorado River Watershed (Texas), and Washita River Watershed.

Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–566 empowered the Secretary, where the Army does have jurisdiction and responsibility, to enter into agreements with the Army to carry out jointly the measures heretofore set out and in areas where the Secretary is authorized to purchase land rights for structural measures, permitted the Secretary in lieu of such acquisition, to reimburse local organizations for such proportionate share of the cost of land rights furnished as the Secretary deems equitable in consideration of the national interest.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 701f–3

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102