Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73not60

§702j–1 Saint Francis and Yazoo Rivers; Lands and Easements; Alteration of Highways; Cooperation of States

Title 33 › Chapter 15— FLOOD CONTROL › § 702j–1

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Neither flood-control project for the Saint Francis River or the Yazoo River can start until the States or other qualified agencies promise they will handle certain local costs and give needed land. They must agree to pay for any highway changes and any damages caused by building reservoirs so the United States pays nothing for those items. They must also provide, free to the United States, the lands and easements needed to build levees and drainage ditches. The Chief of Engineers may pick where Yazoo headwater reservoirs go, may replace the seven detention reservoirs described in his report of February 12, 1935 with levees, floodways, or extra channels, and may change the Saint Francis plan to add a detention reservoir and have the United States buy the lands and flooded areas needed for it (except flooded highways), so long as the U.S. cost does not increase. The Chief of Engineers may also substitute a combined reservoir, floodway, and levee plan for the Yazoo project if the total cost does not exceed the current authorization in House Committee on Flood Control Document Numbered 1, Seventy-fourth Congress, first session. Any such modified Yazoo plan is subject to the same local cooperation promises above.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §702j–1

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(1)Neither of the projects for the flood control of the Saint Francis River or the Yazoo River, authorized by section 642a, 702a–1, 702a–2 to 702a–12, 702g–1, 702j–1, 702j–2, 702k–1, and 702k–2 of this title, shall be undertaken until the States, or other qualified agencies, shall have furnished satisfactory assurances that they will undertake, without cost to the United States, all alterations of highways made necessary because of the construction of the authorized reservoirs, and meet all damages because of such highway alterations, and have agreed also to furnish without cost to the United States all lands and easements necessary to the construction of levees and drainage ditches constructed under this project: Provided, That the reservoirs for control of headwater flow of the Yazoo River system may be located by the Chief of Engineers, in his discretion: And provided further, That the Chief of Engineers may, in his discretion, substitute levees, floodways, or auxiliary channels, or any or all of them, for any or all of the seven detention reservoirs recommended in his report of February 12, 1935, for the control of floods of the Yazoo River: And provided further, That the Chief of Engineers, with the approval of the Secretary of the Army, may modify the project for the flood control of the Saint Francis River as recommended in said report, to include therein the construction of a detention reservoir for the reduction of floods, and the acquisition at the cost of the United States of all lands and flowage necessary to the construction of said reservoir except flowage of highways: Provided further, That the estimated cost to the United States of the project is not increased by reason of such detention reservoir.
(2)The Chief of Engineers may, in his discretion, modify the project for the control of floods on the Yazoo River, as authorized by paragraph (1) of this section, to substitute therefor a combined reservoir floodway and levee plan: Provided, That the total cost thereof does not exceed the present authorization as estimated in House Committee on Flood Control Document Numbered 1, Seventy-fourth Congress, first session: Provided further, That the modified project shall be subject to the following conditions of local cooperation:No work shall be undertaken until the States or other qualified agencies have furnished satisfactory assurances that they will—
(a)undertake, without cost to the United States, all alterations of highways made necessary because of the construction of reservoirs and meet all damages because of such highway alterations; and
(b)furnish, without cost to the United States, all lands and easements necessary to the construction of levees and drainage ditches.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Par. (1) is comprised of act June 15, 1936, and par. (2) is from act Aug. 28, 1937.

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. § 702j–1

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60